Fishponds Voice Newspaper April 2016 by Fishponds Voice

fishpondsvoice April, 2016 — ISSUE 15

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New call to act over Hockey’s Lane A FRESH effort to remove the ban on turning left into Hockey’s Lane from Fishponds Road has been launched. This follows renewed concern from residents about the dangers to pedestrians on the crossing from the drivers who ignore the ban. Repeated attempts to lift the restriction, which was introduced in 2011 as part of changes for the Greater Bristol Bus Network, have fallen on deaf ears. The issue is likely to be highlighted in the forthcoming Mayoral and all-out council election campaign. In the meantime, a petition has been launched on the city council website with the aim of showing the strength of feeling. It points out that since the ban was introduced, the library has moved and an Aldi supermarket has opened, increasing the number of pedestrians in the area.

Street pockets cut traffic speed Residents in Stonebridge Park say their new street pockets artwork, planters and seating have reduced speeding and made the area safer. PAGES 6&7

Yes to Chester Park Juniors Planners have given the goahead for new buildings for Chester Park Junior School on the Ridgeway Road playing fields in spite of concerns about the impact on neighbours. PAGE 4

New facilities for bowling club

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GLENFROME Primary School in Eastville invited the ice cream van to pay a special visit and serve up 350 celebratory cornets to chldren and staff. To find out why, turn to Page 11

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fishpondsvoice April, 2016 — ISSUE 15

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Street pockets cut traffic speed Residents in Stonebridge Park say their new street pockets artwork, planters and seating have reduced speeding and made the area safer. PAGES 6&7

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Happy days

in Eastville GLENFROME Primary Schoolpay a special invited the ice cream van to cornets visit and serve up 350 celebratory to chldren and staff. 11 To find out why, turn to Page

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What a wealth of treasures! SPRING is in the air, so why not get out and enjoy some of the varied delights that Greater Fishponds has got to offer? We are spoiled for choice, with the Frome Valley, Stoke Park, Purdown and the Bristol to Bath railway track on our doorstep. The area is rich in community spirit as well as natural treasures, as this edition of Fishponds Voice reflects. The street pockets initiative in Stonebridge Park is one example. While it has attracted some criticism, the scheme’s success in reducing traffic speeds is impressive in itself. At least as important, though, is the opportunities the residents are creating for people of all ages to get together and enjoy their

fishpondsvoice Publisher Gary Brindle 0117 907 8585 07799 461169

Journalist Linda Tanner 0777 0700579

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neighbourhood. As the biggest elections in Bristol’s history draw near, we commend all who are contemplating standing for office with the aim of improving our community. It’s also great to celebrate the efforts of those raising money for charity, such as our local Strictly dancers Sadie and Pete, and to hail the many successes of children at schools in the Fishponds area. If you have some good news to share, why not get in touch? We’d love to hear from you via email, Facebook or Twitter or you can write to us at 6 Elkstone Walk, Bitton, Bristol, BS30 6JT. Our email address is news@ fishpondsvoice.co.uk. If you are planning an event, we will be happy to list it free of charge in our What’s On pages. We hand-deliver more than 7,500 free copies to homes in the area every month and aim to increase our circulation area over time. But if your street is not covered yet, you can also pick up the Voice at libraries and cafes in the area.

Journalist Jayne Taylor 0788 0731148

Sales Caroline Galvin 07453 954261

LOCAL INFORMATION Bristol City Council http://www.bristol.gov.uk 0117 922 2000

asbreporting@southglos.gov.uk 01454 868582 Streetcare/litter/vandalism etc streetcare@southglos.gov.uk

Police www.avonandsomersetpolice.uk general enquiries: 101 Emergency: 999

Environment/trading standards 01454 868001 Well Aware Health and social care information www. wellaware.org.uk Tel: (freephone) 0808 808 5252

Fire www.avonfire.gov.uk General enquiries: 0117 926 2061 Emergency: 999

Letters to the publication can be sent to the above e-mail address or by post to Letters, Fishponds Voice, 6 Elkstone Walk, Bitton, Bristol BS30 6JT. The editor reserves the right to edit your letter.

Find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/ fishpondsvoice

DEADLINES

NHS 111 Safer Stronger team sscg@southglos.gov.uk 01454 868009

Our May edition deadline is April 25.

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Fishponds Voice is independent. We cannot take responsibility for content or accuracy of adverts, and it is advertisers’ responsibility to conform to all relevant legislation. We cannot vouch for any services offered. Opinions are not necessarily those of the editor. Fishponds Voice is distributed each month to local residents. If for some reason you do not get a copy, please get in touch or collect one from local pick-up points. Feedback is welcomed, call Gary Brindle on 0117 907 8585 or news@fishpondsvoice. co.uk.

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April, 2016

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n NEWS THE people of Fishponds and the rest of the city will vote next month in not one, not two, but three elections. The polls on May 5 will be the biggest in Bristol’s history, for the first time, all 70 seats on the city council are being contested at the same time. This means that the two seats for each of the three Fishponds wards - Frome Vale, Hillfields and Eastville – are up for grabs. Ward boundaries have changed slightly too, following a review to improve electoral equality. This means polling districts have altered as well – so check your polling card to ensure you go to the right place to cast your votes. Voters will also have the chance to have a say in the choice of Bristol’s second Mayor. George Ferguson, who was the first person elected to the role in 2012, is standing for office again. All the major parties will put forward candidates and a number of independents have expressed an interest. Finally, electors across Avon and Somerset will be voting for the next Police and Crime Commissioner. Sue Mountstevens was the first holder of the post and is planning to

fishpondsvoice

Biggest elections in Bristol’s history

defend it. Nominations for all the elections are open until April 7 and candidates will be confirmed a day later. It’s not too late to register to vote – the deadline is April 18. Nicola Yates, electoral registration officer for Bristol, urged people to sign up. “I’d encourage everyone to take action now if they’re not already registered to vote. Our message is simple: you can’t vote if you aren’t registered by the deadline. It’s easy and only takes a few minutes online.” If you are likely to be away on May 5, you must apply for a postal

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vote by April 19. April 26 is the last date for proxy vote applications. The votes will be counted and the results announced over the course of the three days after the poll. The PCC count will be carried out first, with the result expected at about 5pm on May 6. The Bristol Mayoral election count will take place on Saturday May 7 in Whitchurch, with the result likely to be announced late afternoon or early evening. It will be published on the council website www.bristol.gov. uk/elections. The declaration will webcast live. Counting of the ballots for council seats will be on Sunday May 8, wth declarations on completion of each count throughout the day. Results will also be tweeted with the suggested hashtag #BristolVotes2016 And if that isn’t enough for you, remember there’s also the European Union Referendum on June 23.

ELAINE Joan Irwin, chair of the Hillfields Community Trust, has been presented with the Lord Mayor’s Medal for her community work. Elaine, 73, has also been involved in the development of Begbfook Retirement Club. Rob Acton-Campbell, a founder member of the Friends of Troopers Hill, which co-ordinates conservation work in St George, and Speedwell resident Fiona Russell also received the awards. The medals recognise those who have gone above and beyond for the good of their community. Lord Mayor Councillor Clare Campion-Smith said: “These medals are a great way of recognising the selfless work of individuals who work hard on behalf of their community. This year, we have another selection of very worthy winners who should all wear their medals with pride. I would like to thank all who submitted the nominations and also the nominees. Without your work, Bristol would not be the city that it is today. You are the backbone of our community and your work inspires others to step up for the greater good.”

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n NEWS PLANNERS have given the go-ahead for new buildings for Chester Park Junior School on the Ridgeway Road playing fields in spite of neighbours’ concerns. The creation of the 360-place school off Abingdon Road will require making Abingdon Road and Honiton Road one-way, which will mean some residents have a 600 metre round trip to get to their homes. Planning officers said the road changes would be needed to make the area safe for the extra numbers of children and parents going to and from school by car. They also said safety improvements would have to be made to the Lodge Causeway and Ridgeway Road junction. The school is needed to cope with increased demand for primary places. It will allow Chester Park Infant School, which will take over the whole of the existing schools site, to expand to take in 90 children a year instead of 75, while the junior school’s annual n Alison intake will grow Cross

April, 2016

New school on playing fields and one-way traffic scheme approved from 60 to 90. Bristol City Council’s development control committee voted unanimously on March 16 to approve the plans for the twostorey L-shaped school, to provide 12 classrooms, a hall, staff room and facilities for food, science, design and technology and art. Councillors expressed concern that the proposed building was somewhat “cheerless” and suggested that a public art project should be encouraged to “jazz it up a bit”. Andrea Russel-Davies, of Mayfield Park, told the councillors they had not taken enough notice of the impact the additional traffic would have on surrounding streets and suggested they consider another entrance to the site. The committee heard that 82 individual objections had been received, as well as 11 identical letters with separate addresses. Alison Cross, of Abingdon Road, who has been helping organise opposition, was at the meeting. She said afterwards that residents were not against the school but felt the public open space was the wrong

place for it when there were several brownfield sites close by that could have been used. She said school traffic already made life difficult for residents and would be worse with the traffic curbs that were proposed. “We’re being asked to accept major, permanent changes to our streets just to accommodate school

traffic movements which occur for a small fraction of school days only,” she said. The restrictions, which will include speed bumps, will require Traffic Regulation Orders, which will provide residents with another chance to make their views known. The school will be built for the council by Skanska.

School is a pioneer of ‘active travel’ CHESTER Park Junior School is leading the way in encouraging its pupils to walk, scoot or cycle to school. It is one of the first in the city to complete the first stage of a city council programme called Mode Shift Stars, which supports active travel to and from school. The proportion of pupils coming to school is at 37 per cent, compared with a citywide average of 27 per cent, and up from 29 per cent in 2009. But the school has beefed up its School Travel Plan to try to reduce that figure. Organiser Tracey Ellis said: “We have been presented with the Bronze Mode Shift Award to recognise the work we do as a school to encourage our children to travel to school actively. We are only one of two schools in Bristol to have been awarded this and are very proud of this achievement.” The presentation took place at an Active Travel Day, which included fun events such as a Bike for Beans Breakfast, a bike art workshop, a smoothie bike and scooter skills workshops.

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Our Action

Plan for Fishponds

Nearly 1,500 people have contacted their Frome Vale Conservative Team James Hinchcliffe and Councillor Lesley Alexander to say what’s important to them. In response, James and Lesley have created an action plan for Fishponds and surrounding communities. Together with Conservative Mayoral Candidate Charles Lucas, they’ll work hard to deliver that plan if elected on 5th May.

✓ Scrap 20 mph on main routes

The limits on main routes are a waste of public money. Any enforcement by the Police drains resources away from fighting crime. James and Lesley will fight hard for the Council scrap 20 mph on main routes, but keep them outside schools and in builtup areas.

✓ Rejuvenating Fishponds Park

The community deserves a park that people of all ages can enjoy. But Fishponds Park needs a makeover with improved play equipment and other facilities. James and Lesley will support the newly formed Friends of Fishponds Park group to access Council funding and bids to organisations like the Heritage Lottery Fund.

action on litter and ✓ Strong street cleaning Our streets are only cleaned when City Hall chiefs deem necessary. This policy has resulted in litter ridden streets. Central Bristol comes first and the outskirts are thought about much later. James and Lesley are demanding the restoration of weekly frequencies of street cleansing to improve the Frome Vale environment.

congestion with a ✓ Easing M4 Junction 18a link

Many Fishponds residents travelling towards the Hambrook lights hit heavy traffic from Overndale Road onwards. James and Lesley

have joined forces with Kingswood MP Chris Skidmore to make the case for a Government funded Junction 18a link at Emersons Green that will ease congestion.

the Hockey’s Lane ✓ End banned left turn The ban threatens people’s lives. But the Council refuses to listen. James and Lesley will step-up the campaign to end the banned left turn. If Charles Lucas is elected Mayor, he’ll bring forward proposals to finish this measure once and for all.

Charles Lucas Bristol Conservative Mayoral Candidate The choice at this election is between Corbyn’s Labour Candidates in Frome Vale, or your local Conservative Action Team. If elected Charles will deliver James and Lesley’s Fishponds Action Plan. A vote for anybody else risks letting Corbyn’s Labour candidates experiment on our local area.

On 5th May vote James Hinchcliffe and Lesley Alexander for Council and Charles Lucas for Mayor fromevale@bsgconservatives.com www.fromevale.campaigingforyou.com Promoted by Kris Murphy on behalf of the Conservative Party, all of 5 Westfield Park, Bristol BS6 6LT.

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April, 2016

n NEWS

Celebrating dramatic drop in traffic speeds

ABOUT 150 residents turned out for a street party in Stonebridge Park to celebrate making their community a safer and nicer place to live. The road was closed on Sunday March 20 for the event, which highlighted the successful launch of the “street pocket” traffic curbs and also marked the first anniversary of the introduction of 20mph speed limits in east Bristol. Stonebridge Park resident Febien LeDem said: “We have had issues with the speed of traffic on the road, so the combination of the 20mph limit and the street pockets initiative has helped to create a more pleasant environment for us all to enjoy.” Some people have been critical of the street pockets – small areas the size of parking space taken out with seating, plants and artwork – but the organisers of the project say the measures are welcomed by the vast majority (90 per cent) of residents. A spokesman said volunteers had spent many hours over six months consulting neighbours about the position and introduction of the

n Playing Out street pockets. “Research shows that the kind of measures we’re putting in are

highly effective. We measured speeds before and after: average speed before 36mph, with fastest recorded

at 55mph; average speed after, 23mph with fastest recorded at 38mph. HGV traffic has dramatically

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April, 2016

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decreased,” he said. All pockets are placed within specific measurements to allow emergency vehicles through plus an additional safety barrier. Recycling, rubbish trucks and emergency vehicles pass with no problem, the resident added. People in Stonebridge Park

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say they believe their road should be for the community and open to appropriate traffic but not for lorries, speeding drivers or commuters taking a short cut to avoid the A-class Fishponds Road. “Residents want to live in a calm, friendly street where they can chat with their neighbours, and kids can

n One of the street pockets

play outside, not on a race track or in a traffic jam,” the spokesman said. People living in the road already participate regularly in the Playing Out initiative, in which the street is closed for a few hours on a Sunday once a month to allow children to play and residents to meet. Febien LeDem said: “We have always had a thriving local community and have been active in looking for ways to make our street a more pleasant place for us all to live. We have regular events – which

include everything from trips to the local pub to Playing Out sessions and of course street parties.” The March party followed a similar one in October attended by 200 people. It included a visit from the Bristol Playbus and the presentation by Bristol Better at 20 of a large box of games and accessories for the Playing Out sessions. Letters: Pages 32 & 33

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n NEWS

New exhibition at Kingfisher in April THE latest artist to showcase work at the Kingfisher Cafe in Fishponds has been announced as local man Chris Bienvenu, who works mostly in charcoal and drawings. His exhibition will kick off with an opening preview on Thursday April 7 from 6-8pm at the cafe in Straits Parade. Entitled Surface Tension, it will run until May 4, when a different artist will take over the space. Chris said: “The work in this exhibition is the culmination of a year working in traditional mediums and methods. “In the past I’ve worked in contemporary mediums such as video, installation and found object. I chose to return to figurative painting and drawing because I wanted to return to the basics of art practice. Acute, lucid observation of the visual world and the subsequent creative and problem solving aspects of conveying this on a two dimensional surface. I find

problem solving to be the most rewarding aspect of being an artist and also the common theme in both my contemporary practice and the more traditional approach of the work in this show.” The idea of holding regular exhibitions is the result of a collaboration between the cafe and

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Order/Chaos by Louise Forster is currently on at the Kingfisher but will end on April 7 when Chris will take over. Entry to all exhibitions is free.

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n NEWS

Princess Royal meets midwives at Cossham

Pic credit: BBC and Henry Iddon

MIDWIVES at Cossham Birth Centre welcomed a special arrival when they were visited by the Princess Royal. The Princess visited the midwife-led birth centre in Kingswood in her role as patron of The Royal College of Midwives (RCM). Cossham Birth Centre is part of North Bristol NHS Trust and was the first free-standing, midwife-led birth centre in Bristol. It opened in January 2013 and since then has welcomed the arrival of hundreds of babies. Princess Anne saw the facilities, which include four en-suite rooms, water pools in every birthing room, communal facilities for partners, as well as aids to labour such as TENS machines and aromatherapy treatments. During her time at the birth centre - which was rated as outstanding by the Care Quality Commission in their inspection report published last year - she met maternity staff and mothers who shared their stories and experiences. The visit highlighted the excellent work being done by midwives at the unit to personalise the care women receive. Cathy Warwick, chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives, said: “The RCM is really happy that The Princess Royal visited Cossham Birth Centre. It was a great opportunity to display the wonderful work that midwives and maternity staff do here.” Lisa Marshall, head of midwifery at North Bristol NHS Trust, which runs Cossham Birth Centre, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome The Princess Royal to our outstanding birth centre. “She took the time to meet all the staff and took a very detailed

interest in the work that has been undertaken here, particularly our focus on FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) training to enable women from all parts of our local community to use our services.” North Bristol NHS Trust Chief Executive, Andrea Young, added: “The Princess Royal was very informed and spent a lot of time talking to everyone including cleaners, catering and security staff and the League of Friends. “It was particularly good to talk to her about our work around FGM for which we have been leading the way.”

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A HAPPY couple are raising their glasses to celebrate 50 years of marriage. Barbara and John Freeman met on a blind date and haven’t looked back since. Barbara, 68, a science technician at Bristol Metropolitan Academy, and John, 70, who used to work as a charge hand plumber for South Gloucestershire Council, have three children, Lee, Dale and Kye and two grandchildren, Madeline and Ava. The couple, who live in Downend, decided to pull out all the stops to mark their special anniversary and spent a weekend at the glamorous Ritz Hotel in London. As well as tucking into the hotel’s famous afternoon tea, they toured the sights of the capital and watched the West End production of Jersey Boys. Before the couple left for London, daughter-in-law Natalie prepared up a slap up meal for all the family. Barbara said: “My husband was in the army and came home at weekends and that’s when we met. It was a blind date and as soon as we met, we just clicked. Now, 50 years down the line, we’re still together and have always been very happy.” The celebrations aren’t quite over for the golden couple; they are looking forward to a cruise of the Bahamas this summer.

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April, 2016

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n NEWS GLENFROME Primary in Eastville is one of Bristol's healthiest schools – but it had good reason to allow its children (and teachers) an ice cream treat. The school has earned its first rating of Good from the education watchdog Ofsted, with relationships between staff and pupils, and between pupils, said to be outstanding. Glenfrome, which was judged to be inadequate in 2009, has been transformed with a new leadership team, a new building, and a focus on outdoor learning, making use of its six acres of grounds at the bottom of Purdown. Head teacher, Inger O’Callaghan, said: “I am so proud of the children, the staff and all our parents for making this happen. We are a school with a clear vision, strong values, and a love of learning that permeates all we do. This inspection result is the result of continued hard work and dedication by the whole community we look forward to fulfilling our vision to be Outstanding by 2020.” The inspectors, who visited Glenfrome in February, said all pupils, including those for whom English was not their first language, made good progress and achieved well during their time in the school. They praised the quality of

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Ice creams all round as school celebrates its transformation

teaching and the welcoming learning atmosphere. Teachers and support staff were willing to “go the extra mile” to support children and their families, they said. “Leaders are tireless in maintaining the confidence of parents and in working in partnership with them,” the report commented. The Ofsted team noted that staff were very skilled at addressing pupils’ personal and emotional needs. Arrangements for keeping pupils safe were also described as strong. Glenfrome is a multicultural school serving a wide catchment area including Stapleton, Fishponds, Easton, Eastville, Montpelier, Ashley Down, Horfield and Lockleaze. “The whole school community is united in celebrating and making full use of the richness of the pupils’ cultural and religious backgrounds,” the report said. n Pupils enjoying their cornets in the sunshine

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OU may have seen in recent news about the new law regarding microchipping dogs. From 6th April 2016 it will be a legal requirement for ALL dogs over the age of 8 weeks to be microchipped. Failure to do so may result in a fine of up to £500. A phenomenal 250,000 pets go missing every year; that’s an average of one pet going missing every two minutes! A recent survey suggests that approximately 25% of dogs are not microchipped. And of those that are, 31% of owners admit that their details are out of date. Microchipping is a permanent way of identifying an animal and many species can be ‘chipped’, including rabbits and tortoises! The microchip has its own unique number which is linked

April, 2016

n NEWS

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to the animal and owner on a national database. It is important to remember that if you move house or change your phone number, you need to update your pet’s microchip. If you pet isn’t yet microchipped, we can microchip and register your pet online in one simple appointment with our fantastic £10 deal. Until the end of April, we are also offering a FREE chip check – we can scan the microchip and check the details online to ensure your information is correct. Book your appointment with our nurse by calling 0117 9616417. We are easy to find, just off the Lodge Causeway between Kingswood and Fishponds, and have a car park situated behind the building. We hope to see you soon!

COMMUNITY groups in Fishponds can apply for up to £3,000 to hold a special event which celebrates their neighbourhood. Make Sunday Special was launched by Bristol’s mayor in June 2013 as a way of opening up streets to people and the novel initiative has made headlines across the world. It will return this summer with a programme of events and activities as well as a series of markets taking place in the Old City, all of which aim to bring people together to celebrate Bristol’s distinct heritage and unique spirit. Now Make Sunday Special will extend further into the community, with a neighbourhood fund offering local groups the chance to run their own events across the city. Groups can apply for a maximum of £3,000 and the aim is to have one event per neighbourhood partnership area. For the first time the schedule of events will extend beyond

the summer, so people are being encouraged to plan Christmas fairs, Halloween street parties and other winter activities. Bristol mayor George Ferguson said: “This year I am looking forward to seeing local groups taking control and holding events that celebrate their community.” The idea was brought to Bristol by Mr Ferguson who, inspired by similar schemes in Bordeaux and Bogota, opened the city centre streets and roads for pedestrians to enjoy with traffic free zones. They proved an instant success and have brought national and international attention to Bristol. As well as the 14 neighbourhood opportunities, there will be three events in the Old City this year, taking place on the first Sunday of June, July and September. If you are interested in applying to hold an event in the Fishponds, Hillfields or Eastville areas, visit https://www.bristol.gov.uk/

Teen pregnancies fall TEEN pregnancy rates in Bristol are now lower than the national average. The number of teen pregnancies in Bristol has reduced this year by 14 per cent to 22.1 per 1,000 women aged 15 to 17, according to figures released by the Office of National Statistics. This is compared to the national average, which fell six per cent to 22.8 using the same measure. In Bristol, conceptions in girls aged under 18 have reduced by more than half (54 per cent) in the past decade and 57 per cent since 1998 when the Bristol teenage pregnancy strategy began. This is the first year since then that Bristol’s rate has been lower than the national average. In 1998 there were 339 young women under 18 who conceived, and this reduced to 146 in 2014. Trends in under 16 conceptions in Bristol over last five years are also encouraging; in 2009, 73 young women under 16 became pregnant and this reduced to 20 in 2014. Bristol City Council has worked with partners across the city to address this complicated public health issue and strategies include effective education programmes and easier access to contraception.

Willowdean Court, 247a Charlton Road, Kingswood, Bristol BS15 1LT Telephone: 0117 961 6417 To advertise, contact Caroline on 07453 954261

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April, 2016

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n NEWS WHIZZES, bangs and flashes featured at Begbrook Primary Academy in Stapleton when pupils took part in National Science Week. The event involved all 540 children, aged four to 11, and included interactive activities to inform, educate and entertain. National Science Week is a celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths and features various events and activities across the UK for people of all ages. Students learnt about careers in science through assemblies and hands-on practical investigations. It is hoped the week will help students to develop their critical-thinking, team-working and problem-solving skills through activities designed to inspire a future generation of scientists. Sessions were led by class teachers, including the school’s science coordinator Rachel Wellington, who organised the event. She said: “The students really engaged and thoroughly enjoyed the practical experiments they participated in. “It is important that we engage students with science at an early age to hopefully inspire and excite them to study science further in their educational careers.”

Young scientists at Begbrook get stuck in to hands-on learning

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n NEWS BRISTOL’s own Strictly Come Dancing competition raised more than £18,000 for St Peter’s Hospice. Twelve couples took part in the final, after taking part in just nine weeks of professional dance training. The winners were Jenny Hall from St George and Cameron Milne from Clifton, who impressed the packed audience and judges Sunetra Sarker from Casualty, Jack Ashton from Call the Midwife and instructors Sue and Andrew from Burroughs Dance Centre with their Charleston and quickstep. Among those taking part were Pete Tiley and Sadie Spikes, from The Boutique Art House B & B in Downend Road, Fishponds, who raised nearly £2,000, and were thrilled to be awarded a set of 8s from the judges. Sadie said: “It was a wonderful and challenging experience.We have learned so much along the way, met some great people and supported a wonderful cause.” “The dance-off was quite scary, but the finalists were brilliant, especially the winners, Jenny and Cam. We are so grateful to everyone who supported us, especially the team at the Cross Hands pub, who gave their upstairs room for free as a practice space.” St Peter’s Hospice event

fishpondsvoice

April, 2016

Strictly Come Dancing raises over £18,000 for St Peter’s Hospice

£19,000 a day. For around £14,000 of that, the hospice relies on gifts in wills, kind donations and funds generated by the hospice shops. Maria continued: “This fundraiser was something slightly different for people to get involved in and a great opportunity for people to raise money for the hospice while doing something really fun! It was great to see the dancers progress and shake their stuff at the finale.” For more information about St Peter’s Hospice fundraising events visit www. stpetershospice.org

n Judges Andrew from Burroughs Dance Centre, Sunetra, Jack and Sue from Burroughs Dance Centre fundraiser Maria del Carmen Moon Park said: “Huge congratulations to Jenny and Cameron who have

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worked so hard during dance training to be able to perform at the finale in front of all of their friends and family. “The final 12 couples have all done an amazing job and I’m so proud of all of them. They were quite nervous to dance live in front of a full audience but they all put on a really great show. “The event has been a huge success for the hospice; it’s the third time we’ve held the competition and to raise such a brilliant amount is very rewarding and will mean a lot to the people we support.” As Bristol’s only adult hospice, St Peter’s Hospice cares for more than 2,000 patients each year as well as supporting family members. All services are provided free of charge but this care costs around

n Pete Tiley and Sadie Spikes, from Fishponds

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n NEWS

fishpondsvoice

Carnival theme for midnight walk

THIS year’s Midnight Walk in aid of St Peter’s Hospice has a carnival theme. The annual event takes place on Saturday July 9, when hundreds of women from across Bristol and the South West will take to the streets for a five-mile or 10-mile night time walk around the city. This year, in a nod to the Rio Olympics, the walk will feature local Samba and Afro-Brazilian dancers and participants will be encouraged to dress in carnival attire with feathers and bright colours. Taking in all the sights of Bristol including the ss Great Britain, the Clifton Suspension Bridge and the Harbourside, the seventh annual Midnight Walk event aims to raise more than £100,000. St Peter’s Hospice events fundraiser Maria del Carmen Moon Park said: “The Midnight Walk is our most well-attended fundraiser and has become one of the most popular events in the Bristol calendar over the past few years because of its fun atmosphere. “It’s great to see groups of

friends and family come together, dress up and sing and dance their way around the route. With two distances to choose from, this is an event that anyone can take part in. It’s not competitive at all, but it’s a great achievement to complete. “With the added element of the carnival theme this year, we’re expecting a huge turnout! The ladies always put great effort into wearing pink so I can’t wait to see the crowds of people dressed for carnival walking through the streets of Bristol. “As ever we are looking for as many people as possible to take part and we need volunteer marshals to help on the night too.” This year’s event is being sponsored by local business Sounds Commercial and supported by Western Power Distribution. Earlybird registration for the Midnight Walk is available now. Those who register will receive an events pack, including a T-shirt. For more information or to sign up visit http://midnightwalk.stpetershospice. org.uk

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n NEWS CARERS Support Centre, a charity based at the Vassall Centre in Fishponds, is offering a variety of free tailored training courses and workshops for 2016. The charity helps people who care for someone, whether it is a friend or family member. It offers advice, information and support; as it can often be difficult for carers to know what they are entitled to and what help is out there for them. Courses are open to anyone caring for a family member or friend in Bristol. They could be looking after someone who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or substance misuse problems. Caring with Confidence: For

The Care Forum celebrates 20 years

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Free training is on offer for carers anyone who is caring: to help build knowledge in making decisions, working with professionals, getting practical support and looking after yourself. Next course starts Wednesday April 20, 6.30-8.30pm, for five weeks. Caring and understanding dementia:Very popular course to give carers a better understanding of the nature and effects of dementia. Next course starts Thursday June 9, 6.30-8.30pm, for five weeks. Caring for those in the later stages of life: For those caring for

someone with a life-limiting illness. It gives carers a safe space to discuss complex issues. Next course starts Tuesday June 21, 1-3pm. Well-being courses for older carers: For carers over the age of 50 living in Bristol. This course will help you create a healthy balance between your own life and your caring role, look at reducing the risk of loneliness and isolation, show how relaxation techniques can help in times of stress and how to focus on yourself. Starts Friday June 3, 10.30am-12.30pm, for five weeks, at Barton Hill Settlement, 32

A FISHPONDS charity is celebrating 20 years of promoting health and well-being for all. The Care Forum, based at the Vassall Centre in Gill Avenue, has grown significantly since 1996 and has responded to the rapidly changing demands of health and social care. Key services and activities currently include: • Health and social care advocacy projects supporting people in getting their voices heard; • Well Aware, a free health and well-being information website and Freephone line for the local area; • Healthwatch which listens to people’s

Ducie Road, BS4 0AX. Postural care Workshop: For carers who look after a child who finds it difficult to move or to change position without help. It is really important to protect children as they grow - because this is when they are most vulnerable to their body’s changing shape. Monday May 23, 10am--1pm, at Carers Support Centre, Fishponds. To find out more, call Pauline Edwards-Samuels on 0117 958 9988, or email training@ carerssupportcentre.org.uk Or see the website: www. carerssupportcentre.org.uk

experiences in health and social care and feeds back to services to make improvement; • In addition, The Care Forum supports over 200 volunteers working in five different projects. As part of the its 20th anniversary, The Care Forum will be hosting an advocacy conference on Tuesday May 3 with the theme ‘Advocating for People with Dementia’. The event will include updates and stories about how the charity supports people and makes a difference to them and their families. The celebrations will culminate at its AGM and annual conference in November with the theme of ‘Resilience’.

RECEPTION PLACES AVAILABLE FOR SEPTEMBER 2016 VACANCIES IN SELECTED OTHER YEAR GROUPS Whole School Open Morning Friday 29th April, 9.30am - 11.30am Register online at www.colstons.org Email: admissions@colstons.org Telephone: 0117 965 5207

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April, 2016

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n NEWS IT’S never too early to think about your future and youngsters from May Park Primary School have proved they’re ahead of the game. Doctors, nurses and police officers were invited to the Eastville school recently to talk to Year 5 and 6 children about their jobs and the routes they took to reach their chosen profession. Also in attendance was a lighting technician, zoo keeper, journalist and builder as well as a delegation from Bristol Sport, which included professional basketball player and captain of the Bristol Flyers, Greg Streete. The event formed the school’s first ever Futures Day and took part during the school’s ‘Enterprise Term’ in March. To enthuse the children about their profession, each visitor decorated their table with props and resources which they use in their job. Teacher Neil Sutton said: “The children thoroughly enjoyed the event and have since used the experience as a stimulus for a piece of work about ambitions, dreams and future aspirations.” Year 5 pupil Mughanam said: “It was excellent. There was lots of inspiration from the people at the Futures Day. They helped us to think about what we want to do when we are older.”

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n NEWS Getting set for McD’s fight THE campaign group fighting plans for a McDonald’s drive-thru in Fishponds Road will be able to call witnesses at the public inquiry later this year. Say No to McDonald’s in Fishponds group, which represents the 478 local residents who submitted formal objections and the 1,667 people who signed the petition against plans for a fast food outlet at the old tyre warehouse, have been awarded “Rule 6 status”. This puts it on an equal footing with the burger chain and with Bristol City Council, which refused permission in February last year for the proposed development. The group is preparing its case for the four-day inquiry, which opens on November 8 at the Old Council House in Bristol and expects to call witnesses to address health and environmental issues. The Say No to McDonald’s in Fishponds team has been keeping the former tile factory site tidy, decorating it with bunting and artwork and planting flowers. Members would like to see the building used as a community facility.

April, 2016

Big effort to spread the word on children’s health and wellbeing ALL primary schools in Bristol are being given a copy of The Big Book of Bristol Healthy Schools with the aim of improving children’s health and wellbeing. The Big Book showcases the work of nine schools that have achieved Healthy School status by completing the Mayor’s Award for Excellence as a Health Improving School. To achieve this, schools must embed 28 different standards across areas such as physical activity, personal safety, healthy eating, building positive relationships and managing worries and difficult feelings. One of the nine is Glenfrome Primary in Eastville. The books will also be available in health centres and libraries, to spread the message about how to improve children’s health. Becky Pollard, director of public health at Bristol City Council, said: “The importance and value of

getting children to adopt healthy habits when they’re young cannot be underestimated. Childhood obesity, deteriorating oral health and increasing mental health problems for children are topics high on the national news agenda, so in Bristol we’ve developed the Healthy Schools programme to help tackle these issues. This is a well-formed model for improving the overall health and wellbeing of children and we’re working holistically with schools to ensure the best outcomes for pupils.” The success of the Bristol Healthy Schools approach is proven with schools reporting many different measures of improvement from more children eating fruit and vegetables, to less food waste and fewer behaviour issues. One primary school saw 28 per cent fewer playground incidents recorded while another saw a 56 per cent increase in children being physically active during lunchtime.

At another school the number of children eating fruit and vegetables at lunch soared by 75 per cent. George Ferguson, Mayor of Bristol, said: “There is nothing more important than our health, and schools have enormous potential to teach healthy behaviours which last a lifetime and help to reduce health inequalities. With the Big Book we wanted to bring the idea of Healthy Schools, and the fantastic outcomes, to a wider audience and inspire others to get involved. 2016 is Bristol’s Year of Learning and understanding how to be healthy is hugely important so I’d like to see all schools in Bristol signing up to this great initiative.” It usually takes two years to achieve the Mayor’s Award and become a Healthy School. To request a copy of the Big Book, please contact: Liz Mitchell healthyschools@bristol.gov.uk or 0117 922 3759.

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HIS month marks the return of the annual ‘Rogue Trader Week’, when we look to raise awareness of the advice, “If you’re not sure, don’t open the door”. We’ve all heard the horror stories of pensioners conned out of life savings and, sadly, there are criminals out there who finance a very nice lifestyle by stealing from the most vulnerable in our society. We’d like you to help by ensuring your elderly neighbours or relatives know what to do when confronted at the door by someone they are not expecting, whether a man, woman, or child. It takes a lot of confidence to say no, especially when presented with a convincing story. Don’t forget that legitimate callers will have made an appointment and certainly will not mind waiting while you check them out or,

Est 1984

fishpondsvoice

E: news@fishpondsvoice.co.uk

April, 2016

If you’re not sure, don’t open the door, say police

n NEWS Feasibility study on extra M4 junction

even better, return when you have someone with you. The same applies for people claiming to be collecting for charity– don’t be afraid to ask them to leave details through your letterbox. There is lots of advice on our website, www. avonandsomerset.police.uk We’re still seeing a concerning number of burglaries across Bristol, with many involving burglars targeting car keys either left on view or that they can get to by fishing through letterboxes. Please remember to put your car keys securely away out of sight – never leave them in the back door or within view through a letterbox or window. The trend for targeting UPVC doors with paddle or stub handles also continues. Don’t just pull the handle up to engage the latch, you must also turn the key to properly lock the door. Burglars are

THE Government has allocated half a million pounds in the budget to investigate a possible extra junction on the M4 at Emersons Green. Lesley Alexander and James Hinchcliffe, who will contest the Frome Vale council seats for the Conservatives, have welcomed the news that a feasibility study will be carried out into the Junction 18a proposal. They said: “Bristol people have contacted us in their hundreds saying that they think either their journey or the journeys of family and friends towards the Hambrook lights would benefit from the link. “A coalition of residents, businesses and politicians across Bristol and South Gloucestershire have joined forces to take this proposal to the next stage. We now want even more people to come forward with either their support or commenting horror stories so we can keep-up the pressure for this important piece of local infrastructure.”

La Porta Barbering Company

The Fishponds Conservative Club 761 Fishponds Road BS16 3UP Telephone 0117 965 2532 www.fishpondsconservativeclub.co.uk Est 1984

Traditional Gents Barbers 525 Fishponds Rd, Fishponds, Bristol, BS16 3AH

0117 965 1220

SERVING THE COMMUNITY IN THE HEART OF FISHPONDS A place to relax with friends or fellow members during your busy day. We have two bars with large spacious comfortable lounges as well as three snooker tables, carpet bowls, pool and darts. We offer a full range of social events including live entertainment, theme nights, tribute nights, quizzes, bingo and raffles.

FOR MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION OR MORE DETAILS VISIT OUR WEBSITE, TELEPHONE OR CALL IN TO DISCUSS

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CALL OR E-MAIL ME 07444 141947

All things considered vintage and collectable including toys, music, militaria, furniture, clothes

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exploiting this mistake, so if you or family members or neighbours have such a door, please help by sharing this advice. Sergeant Anthony Westwell

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Email: sales@fishpondsvoice.co.uk

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Rajani Superstore Everything For The Home & Garden

Maggs Lane, Fishponds Trading Estate,Bristol, BS5 7EW www.rajanis.co.uk

Tel: 0117 965 5201

Situated just off the cycle track.

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40 ft Containers available for rent Rajani's offer a wide selection of products that range from pet accessories for the animal lovers to household products for the home owners to tools for all the tradesmen. All of our products are at discounted prices to give all our customers the maximum value for money.

Visit our Instore Cafe which serves sandwiches,lunches, full english breakfasts. Hot and cold drinks.

Enjoy shopping instore and online www.rajanis.co.uk

April, 2016

E: news@fishpondsvoice.co.uk

Kerry McCarthy MP for Bristol East

writes for Fishponds Voice

S we know, obesity is a major problem nationally; a quarter of all adults are obese, and over half overweight. This, and related illnesses like diabetes, cost the NHS

fishpondsvoice

around £6 billion per year – more than prisons, police and fire services combined! There was very little to be happy about in the Chancellor’s recent Budget, with poor economic forecasts, and disability payments slashed while billions are given away to big business and high earners. I do, however, welcome the Government’s decision to introduce a sugar tax This tax will be levied on soft drinks with a sugar content of more than 5g of sugar, and the money raised (around £530 million) will be spent on sport in primary schools. Some have decried this measure as an example of the ‘nanny state’. Given the scale of our obesity crisis, though, I think it would be irresponsible not to act against companies like Coca Cola, whose cans contain over 100% of an adult’s recommended sugar intake. Some also argue that a sugar tax disproportionately hits those on lower incomes, but the way the measures are designed, the onus will be on producers to reduce sugar content. At most, the changes will only mean 8p more on the price of a can. I can’t see this making much difference to consumer

behaviour, which is why we need better labelling, showing how many teaspoons of sugar in a drink; a recent survey revealed there were as many as 13 teaspoons in a popular can of ginger beer. Locally, we also need to look at ways of encouraging healthy lifestyles. Some restaurants and cafés in Fishponds already offer healthy choices, but there are a lot of fast food outlets where this is not the case. I think the last thing we need on Fishponds Road is a 24 hour drive-thru McDonalds – particularly so close to schools. Fast food is fine in moderation, but not every day. The lack of sports facilities also contributes towards inactivity and obesity, and so I was delighted when Labour councillors last month were successful in securing capital funding for the east Bristol swimming pool, despite the Mayor’s attempts to cancel the project. East Bristol has been without a pool since 2005, when the one in Speedwell closed. It is so important that everyone in our city has access to sport and leisure facilities, and I hope it’s not too long before we get our pool back.

n NEWS

Free nature sessions for pre-schoolers A NEW project in Fishponds Park will see pre-school children enjoy the great outdoors. As part of its My Wild Child scheme, Avon Wildlife Trust is offering free nature sessions in the park. Activities will include wild art, mini-beast hunts, songs and storytelling. An introductory event will be held on Sunday April 10 from 10.30am to 4pm. Regular fortnightly wild-play sessions for children aged two to four and their parents or carers will begin on Wednesday April 20, from 9.30-11am. Ella Beeson, from Avon Wildlife Trust, said all are welcome to the Easter ‘meet and greet’ session on April 10. The scheme is one of six in Bristol funded by the People’s Postcode Lottery. To find out more, email events@ avonwildlifetrust.org.uk or visit avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/mywildchild

New Kumon study centre opens in Fishponds Experienced Instructor Tina Goodwin is very excited to be opening a new Kumon study centre located at Life Church Bristol (formerly Vintage Community Church). Offering Kumon’s unique maths and English programmes, Tina hopes to help more children to excel in their academic studies. Tina has been running the Downend Study Centre since 2007, and has helped many local children to realise their potential. On her decision to relocate, she said: “With an increasing number of enquiries coming from the Fishponds area, it made sense to relocate. I’m really

excited to be working right in the heart of the community, and with extended opening hours, classes are more easily accessible to local families that are interested in the Kumon programmes.” The Kumon Method aims to help students of all ages and abilities become independent, advanced learners. Tina is looking forward to welcoming new families to the Kumon Fishponds Study Centre. For more information, search Kumon, call 0117 9695915 or email fishponds@kumoncentre.co.uk.

Fees vary. Please refer to your local study centre.

To advertise, contact Caroline on 07453 954261

Email: sales@fishpondsvoice.co.uk

kumon.co.uk Got News? Call Linda On 0777 0700579

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T: 0779 9461169

April, 2016

n WHAT’S ON IN OUR AREA

Friday April 1

n Tea Dance. Downend Folk House, Lincombe Barn. 1.453.45pm. Pay at door.

Friday April 1

n Living after Loss, St Mary’s Parish Rooms (back entrance of church) 11am-12noon. Informal bereavement group, call Lizzie 0117 9650856.

Wednesday April 6

n Easter Holiday Club, Speedwell Methodist Church, 378 Speedwell Road, 10am-noon, followed by optional lunch. Toys, crafts, singing and story time. Babies and children very welcome but they need to bring an adult who will be responsible for them during the session. Only £1.50 per family and a donation for lunch. Come and make new friends.

Tuesday April 12

n Speaker morning plus coffee – Don Everitt: Looking forward to Summer in the Garden, Downend Folk House, Lincombe Barn. 10 for 10.30am. Pay at door

Friday April 15

n Living after Loss, St Mary’s Parish Rooms (back entrance of church) 11am-12noon. Informal bereavement group, call Lizzie 0117 9650856.

Saturday April 23

n St. George’s Day Tea Party in the Park, Fishponds Park 2-5 p.m. Activate Fishponds are holding their 7th annual tea party in the park, featuring music by Canon Fodder. Morris Dancers, Punch & Judy, traditional games, quizzes, puzzles and colouring for the children. Tea and cake. A free event for everyone. If wet, will take place in Fishponds Methodist Church Hall, Guinea Lane, Fishponds. Tel no. 0117 958 4164

Monday April 25

n “Tree beekeeping: revival of an ancient European tradition of

keeping bees in the heart of live trees” YHA Conference Room, 14 Narrow Quay. 7:30pm. Jonathan Powell, natural beekeeper. Avon Organic Group. Email: secretaryaog@gmail.com

Thursday April 28

n Can Prayer be Effective in Healing? Christian Science Church, 51 North View, Westbury Park, Bristol, BS6 7PY, 7.30pm. A talk about spiritual healing to be given by Brian Kissock. For further information telephone 0117 907 7060 or see cssbristol.org.uk.

Friday April 29

n Living after Loss, St Mary’s Parish Rooms (back entrance of church) 11am-12noon. Informal bereavement group, call Lizzie 0117 9650856.

Saturday April 30

n Breakfast, Speedwell Methodist Church, 378 Speedwell Road 10amnoon. Come and enjoy just cake and a cuppa, an egg roll or a full breakfast. Relaxed time to chat, and an opportunity to ask for prayer if there’s a need. Come along and bring a friend.

Friday May 6

n Tea Dance. Downend Folk House, Lincombe Barn. 1.453.45pm. Pay at door.

Friday May 6

n Coach outing to RHS Malvern Spring Show. Downend Folk House, Lincombe Barn – Depart 8.30am. Return at Barn about 6.30pm. Ticket £34.50 plus £4 for non-Barn members (Ticket includes entrance to show). Purchase in advance at Barn Office – enquiries Tel no. 0117 956 23 67

Tuesday May 10

n Speaker morning plus coffee – Great Western Air Ambulance Charity, Downend Folk House, Lincombe Barn. 10.00 for 10.30am. Pay at door.

Tuesday May 24

Coach outing and tour of the Port of Bristol, and visit to Oakham Treasures Museum. Downend Folk House, Lincombe Barn – Depart 9.30am. Return at Barn about 4.30pm. Ticket £18.50 plus £4 for non-Barn members (Ticket includes entrance to Museum). Purchase in advance at Barn Office – enquire Tel no. 0117 956 23 67

REGULAR EVENTS IN THE FISHPONDS AREA

Mondays

n Holistic Massage, St Ambrose Beehive Centre 9am n Tiny Tots, All Saints Community Hall 10:30am n Bereavement and Well-being support, St Ambrose Beehive Centre 11am n Computer Group, St Ambrose Beehive Centre 2pm n Ping Pong (Table Tennis) for over 55’s, St Ambrose Beehive Centre 2pm n Welcome Club for Retireds+, St Aidan’s Church Hall 2pm n Messy Church , St John’s Church 3pm n Prayers, St John’s Church 6:30pm n Zumba, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road. 9.30-10.30am Improve your Ballroom dancing with Teresa, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road 2pm. Tel no. 0117 965 0203 for details. n Slimming World, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road. 7/7.30pm, n Zumba keep fit. Beechwood Club, Fishponds BS16 3TR. 9.3010.30am. Contact Sally 0771 2776 753 n Ballroom tuition, Beechwood Club, Fishponds BS16 3TR. 2- 5pm. Contact Teresa 0117 9650203 n Slimming World, Beechwood Club, Fishponds BS16 3TR. 6.309pm. Contact Ami 0746 2727 229 n Zumba keep fit, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road, Fishponds 9.30-10.30am For details call 0734 1813 559. n U3A social history members only. Seconds Monday member’s only , Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road, Fishponds. 11am-12.30pm n Ballroom tuition Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road, Fishponds. 2-5pm. Call Teresa 0117 9650203 n Slimming World, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road, Fishponds, 6.30-9pm. Call Ami 0746 2727 229 n Social badminton, Kingswood Leisure Centre 2-4 pm, intermediate level.

Tuesdays

n Nordic Walking Classes, Oldbury Court 9.30-10.30am. Email: bristolnordicwalking.co.uk to book your place n Morning Prayer, St John’s Church

To advertise, contact Caroline on 07453 954261

Email: sales@fishpondsvoice.co.uk

We would love to publicise your event Send details of your events and activities in the following format:

WHAT IT IS WHERE IT IS WHEN IT IS in no more than 40 words: email us at: news@fishpondsvoice.co.uk or call us on 07770 700579 / 07880 731148

9:15am n Fishponds Play Café, All Saints Community Hall 9:30am n Foot Care Sessions, St Ambrose Beehive Centre 9:30am n Coffee and Craft Morning, St John’s Church 10am n Sing and Sign for babies / toddlers, All Saints Community Hall 10am n Level 1 Walking Group, St Ambrose Beehive Centre 10am n Music for Toddlers, St Mary’s Parish Rooms 10:30am n Lunch Club, St Ambrose Beehive Centre 12:30pm n Film Club for over 55’s, St Ambrose Beehive Centre 2pm n Pre-school Storytime/ Rhymetime, Fishponds Library 2.15-2.45pm n Eucharist with signing for the Deaf, Hillside Court, Batten Road, St George, Bristol, BS5 8NL 3pm n Messy Church, Fishponds CofE Academy 3:15pm n Woodcraft , All Saints Church Hall/Link 6pm n Evening Prayer, St Aidan’s Church 7pm n Evening Prayer, St Ambrose Church 7pm n Frenchay Parent and Toddler group, upstairs in the Frenchay Village Hall, 9.45-11.45am n Fishponds Townswomen’s Guild, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road, first Tuesday of the month 2pm. The programme changes monthly but includes coffee afternoons and outings. For details call Barbara Davies on 0117 9653557. n Fishponds Townswomen’s Guild, Briarwood School, Briar Way, Fishponds , second Tuesday of the month 7.15pm. Call 0779 9108 890 Scouts (10-14 years), Fishponds Baptist Church Youth Hall. 7.309pm (Term Time only) Email: 151bristolscouts@gmail.com

Got News? Call Jayne On 0788 0731148

April, 2016

E: news@fishpondsvoice.co.uk

n Zumba, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road 7-8pm n Slimming World, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road 9.30am n Slimming World, Beechwood Club, Fishponds BS16 3TR. 9.30am to midday, Contact Ami 0746 2727 229 n Diabetes UK, Beechwood Club, Fishponds BS16 3TR. 6.15-8.15pm. Meeting in small room. n Zumba, Beechwood Club, Fishponds BS16 3TR. 7-8pm. Contact Anna 0779 9180 437 n Badminton, Downend Sports Centre 8 -10pm. Call 0117 9400706. Email: ridgewaydownend@yahoo. co.uk n ‘Friends and Neighbours’, Fishponds Methodist Church Hall, Guinea Lane, 2 - 4pm alternate Tuesdays. A friendly, sociable group, usually with a speaker and followed by a cup of tea.

Wednesdays

n Fishponds Play Café, All Saints Community Hall 9:30am n Songs for Little People, The Kingfisher Café 9.45pm £4 per little person, siblings £2. n Eucharist, St Ambrose Church 10am n Arts and Crafts, St Ambrose Beehive Centre 10:30am n Coffee Morning, St Ambrose Church 10:30am n Tai Chi, St Ambrose Beehive Centre 11am n Level 3 Walking Group, starting from St Ambrose Beehive Centre 1pm n Arts and Crafts, St Ambrose Beehive Centre 1:30pm n Punjabi Dance and Song, St Ambrose Beehive Centre 2pm n Support and Activity Group, St Ambrose Beehive Centre 2pm n Chair based exercise class, St Ambrose Beehive Centre 2pm n Ladies Circle, St Ambrose Beehive Centre 2:30pm n Wives Group, St John’s Church 2:30pm n Messy Church, Air Balloon Primary School, Hillside Rd, St George 3:30pm n Home Group, Location varies 6:30pm

Office: 12 Chewton Close Fishponds Bristol BS16 3SR

fishpondsvoice

n Phoenix Art Club, Fishponds Methodist Church Hall, Guinea Lane, Fishponds 10am-noon. All mediums, all abilities. n Dancing Tots, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road 10-11am n Hannah More Club for senior citizens, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road 2-4pm (fortnightly) n Reading group, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road 2 -3.30pm 4 weekly. Email: gwenczek@yahoo. co.uk n Keep Fit, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road 7-8 pm n Dance Tots, Beechwood Club, Fishponds BS16 3TR 7-8pm. Contact Eric 0791 4006 589 n Keep fit class, Beechwood Club, Fishponds BS16 3TR. 7- 8pm. Contact Beryl 0117 9774534. n Cycle CCTV, Beechwood Club, Fishponds BS16 3TR. 8-10pm. Winter months only n Lodge Causeway Townswomen’s Guild, Briarwood School, Briar Way, Fishponds. Second Wednesday of the month (except August) 7.15pm. Different speaker each month plus handicrafts and walking group. Call 0779 9108 890 n Living after Loss, St Mary’s Parish Rooms, back entrance of church 11am-noon. An informal bereavement group. Please note this group is fortnightly. Call Lizzy on 0117 9650856. n Dance Tots, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road, Fishponds 9-11am. Call Eric 0791 4006589 n Yoga, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road, Fishponds 5.456.45pm. Call Nikki 0752 5735 500 n Keep Fit class, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road, Fishponds 7-8pm. Call Beryl 0117 9774534 F n lower Arranging practice classes, Downend Folk House, Lincombe Barn, Overndale Road 7.30 p.m, every 1st and 3rd Wednesday, September – May. All levels welcome. Call Isabel Cooke on 0117 9568504 n Women’s Reading Group, Beechwood Club, 2-3.30pm third Wednesday of every month. Call Margaret 0117 9028007.

Tel: 0117 904 2890 Mobile: 07703 347726

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Thursdays

n Morning Prayer - St Aidans Church 9:15am n Body toning/conditioning , Beechwood Club 9.30-10.30am. Call Sabrina 0794 1353 735 n Fishponds Play Café, All Saints Community Hall 9.30am n Coffee and Craft Morning , St Aidan’s Church 10am n Free Beginners Computer Classes, St Ambrose Beehive Centre 10am n Eucharist, St John’s Church 10am n Eucharist, St Mary’s Church 10am n Parent and Toddler Group, St Ambrose Beehive Centre 10am n Ballroom Dance Class, St Ambrose Beehive Centre 12pm n Exercises and Sing-a-long Activity Session, St Ambrose Beehive Centre 2pm n Fit Steps, St Ambrose Beehive Centre 2pm n Dance, Latin Rhythm, and Zumba gold, Beechwood Club 2-3pm. Call Cressida 0780 8587 39 n Knit & Natter, Fishponds Library 2-4 pm (fortnightly) n Frenchay Parent and Toddler group, upstairs in the Frenchay Village Hall, 9.45-11.45am n The Senior Citizen Friendship Club, Beechwood Club, Fishponds BS16 3TR 3.30-5pm. Call 0782 5155 954. Email: Spencer@sporting-

change.biz n Sequence Dance class, Beechwood Club, Fishponds BS16 3TR. 7.30-9.30pm. Call John 0145 4261 498 n Beginner’s Taoist Tai Chi, Fishponds Methodist Church, Guinea Lane 7-8.30pm. Come and enjoy better balance through Taoist Tai Chi practice. Moving meditation for body, mind and spirit. taoist. org.uk n Fun Fitness Thursdays 2-3pm. Variety dance and fitness class including Zumba Gold, Line dance, Salsa etc! Suitable over 50’s or those looking for fun & easy class. £4 or £20 for 6. ffi Tel Cressida 0117 9391672 or 0780 8581 739 n Zumba Gold with Cressida, Royal British Legion, Kendall Road, Staple Hill, 1.30pm-2.30pm. Fun dance & exercise class to music from around the world. Ideal for beginners to Zumba or older students.Special offer -first class £3. Tel no. 0117 330 9549 / 0780 8581 739 n Fishponds and Downend Rotary Club, The Langley Arms, Guest Avenue, Emersons Green, Bristol BS16 7GA, evening. The club is actively seeking new members to share fun, fellowship and community service. Full details on website - Google “F&D Rotary” and

Continued on next page

Can prayer be effective in healing? A free talk on Christian Science by Brian Kissock Join us on Thursday 28 April at 7:30pm in the Christian Science Church 51 North View, Westbury Park, Bristol BS6 7PY www.cssbristol.org.uk

Email: sales@fishpondsvoice.co.uk

Got News? Call Linda On 0777 0700579

fishpondsvoice

T: 0779 9461169

April, 2016

n WHAT’S ON IN OUR AREA look for homepage. n Baby Bebop Mums, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road, Fishponds 11am-1pm, babies up to one year. Call Ruth 0796 6032 414 n Cressida dance keep fit and Zumba gold, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road, Fishponds 2-3pm. Tel no. 0780 8581 739 n Sequence dance class, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road, Fishponds 7.30-9.30pm. Call John 0145 4261 498

Fridays

n Greeting cards sold in aid of St Peter’s Hospice, Fishponds Methodist Church Hall, morning. n Nordic Walking Classes, Oldbury Court 9.30-10.30am. Contact bristolnordicwalking.co.uk to book your place. n The Friday Playgroup, All Saints Community Hall 9:30am n Line Dancing, St Ambrose Beehive Centre 10:30am n Rhymetime for babies and toddlers, Hillfields Library 11.30amnoon n Senior Citizens Bingo Club with optional fish and chip lunch, St Ambrose Beehive Centre 12pm n The First Friday Film Club - All Saints Church Hall, 2pm n Taekwondo, St John’s Church

Hall 5:30pm n Silent Meditation, St Mary’s Parish Rooms 6pm n Grove Road Youth Club, All Saints Community Hall 7pm n Sensible keep fit to music for older ladies. Hillfields Park Baptist Church, Thicket Avenue, Fishponds 9am. Good company and a chat over coffee. Call 0117 9561231. n High density Zumba, Beechwood Club, Fishponds 6.157.15pm. Call Anna 0779 9180 437 n Zumba, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road 9.30-10.30pm n Alzheimer’s group, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road 2-4pm 2nd Friday in month, n Zumba keep fit, Beechwood Club, Fishponds BS16 3TR. 9.3010.30am. Call Sally 0771 2776 753 n Baby Bebop (Mums / Babies up to 1 year old) Beechwood Club, Fishponds BS16 3TR. 11am-1pm. Contact Ruth 0796 6032 414 n Alzheimer’s meetings Beechwood Club, Fishponds BS16 3TR. 2-4pm (2nd Friday in each month). Tel no. 0117 9756 441 n Fishponds History society Beechwood Club, Fishponds BS16 3TR 7-9 pm ( 1st Friday monthly). Contact John 0117 965 8110

Saturdays

n Diabetes group, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road 2-4pm, 2nd Saturday, 2 monthly, September

Sundays

n Morning Worship and children’s group, Speedwell Methodist Church, 378 Speedwell Road. 10.30am Friendly, informal and lively. n Eucharist, All Saints Church 8am n Eucharist, St Mary’s Church 10am with Giggle Sunday Club in Parish Rooms n Eucharist, St Ambrose Church 10am n Eucharist or Lay-Led Service, St Michael’s Church 10am n Eucharist or Lay-Led Service, St Aidan’s Church 10:30am n Eucharist or Lay-Led Service, St John’s 10:30am n Eucharist or Lay-Led Service, All Saints Church 10.30am n All Sorts Youth Group, St Aidan’s Church hall 6pm(fortnightly) n Evensong , St Mary’s Church 6:30pm n Worship, Staple Hill Methodist Church 10.30am and 6pm. A creche is available for little ones and Sunday Club. Taize Worship is held on second Sunday evening of the

month and communion is taken on first morning and evening of the month. Call 0117 9575221 n Fishponds Baptist Church (opposite the Cross Hands pub) - 10.30am. Friendly, welcoming church with people from a range of backgrounds, nationalities and ages. Children and youth provision for all ages. 6.30pm every Sunday, apart from the 3rd Sunday in the month when we have our ‘Messy church’ at 4pm with crafts, food and fun for all the family! There is a songs of praise service on the 4th Sunday at 3pm. n Redemption Life, Beechwood Club, BS16 3TR 9.30am-1pm n Church Group, Beechwood Club, Fishponds BS16 3TR 1pm n ARC, Beechwood Club, Fishponds BS16 3TR. 3.30-5.30pm or 7-9pm For bookings and other inquiries about Beechwood Club, call Terry King 0117 965 020, after 4pm. email: tk007h9736@ blueyonder.co.uk n Morning Worship, Fishponds Methodist Church, Guinea Lane 10.30am n R.F.I.Church Group, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road, Fishponds 1-3pm n Sisters fellowship international, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road, Fishponds 4-6pm. Call Stella 0117 9586168.

Staple Hill Royal British Legion KENDALL ROAD, STAPLE HILL, BRISTOL BS16 4NB all events listed are open to all to come and join in

FORTHCOMING EVENTS Friday 8th April - 7.30pm

Barn Dance

with a 3 piece band called Old Fox Band with a caller Tickets £5 Friday April 15th - 7pm

Family Fun Night Disco, Games for all ages

Special theme Easter - Prize for best costume and hat Children £3.50 (under 3 free) Adults £2.50 Bar open with food.

Bridge Community Church meets every Sunday at 10:30am at Downend school for vibrant modern worship and relevant talks on life and faith.

Saturday 14th May - 7.30pm

Tribute Night

Neil Diamond (Rob Leigh) plus comedy from Lee Carroll Tickets £10

We also provide a crèche for tots, and fun activities for older kids.

Short Mat Bowls

Find us at : Downend School, Westerleigh Road , Downend, Bristol BS16 6XA

Every Tuesday @ 2.00pm - 4.00pm Beginners welcome £2.50 per session

Hall, Skittle Alley’s, Lounges available for hire See our website for more details: www.staplehillbritishlegion.co.uk Staple Hill Legion open for tickets Monday & Friday 10.00am to 12.30pm or tel 0117 9560805 07519717372 or visit Sheen Studios, High St Staple Hill (Shop hours)

To advertise, contact Caroline on 07453 954261

Email: sales@fishpondsvoice.co.uk

Got News? Call Jayne On 0788 0731148

April, 2016

E: news@fishpondsvoice.co.uk

n NEWS FISHPONDS’ Gentle Touch has been nominated in a national awards competition which aims to seek out the best activities, classes and places for children. Run by Fishponds mum Anna Mapson and business partner Emma Haverson, The Gentle Touch offers baby massage and baby yoga classes across Bristol. They have been shortlisted for an award in the What’s On 4 2016 Junior Awards in the Best Local Activity for Under 5s category. They will now go through to the national voting stage. All nominees have been voted by parents, carers or parents-to-be. Anna, who has two children, said: “We’re so chuffed to be

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Baby massage business in line for national award nominated, it’s great that people enjoyed our classes so much. We both love working with new mums and supporting them to develop. Just hope we get to the finals.” The winners will be announced at the live awards ceremony on June 23 which will feature children’s TV star Sid Sloane. Parents can vote for their favourite nominees by visiting www. whatson4littleones.co.uk until May 11. More than 100,000 votes are anticipated this year. Everyone who votes or nominates will be in with a chance to win two VIP tickets to attend the awards ceremony and reception and meet the winners, finalists, sponsors and VIPs. What’s On 4 events director Suzanne Borrell said: “In this, our 10th anniversary year with the highest number of nominations received ever, it’s still so moving and humbling to read the testimonials from parents on how these amazing nominees have made such a difference to their and their

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April, 2016

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fishpondsvoice

Eye Blog . . .

with Jonathan Best of Marian Blake Opticians

Home visits

other symptoms. Because most ANY elderly and disabled eye testing equipment is portable, people still want to the quality of care provided in a continue to live relatively home visit is similar to that given independent lives and in an optometrist’s practice. Also, preserve their dignity, but they do having an eye test carried out in not always have access to services the comfort of your own home that would allow them to do so. causes a minimum of physical and One such vital service is eye emotional disruption. Allowing the care. Government figures reveal Optometrist to see the client’s that, although over a million people lighting can allow them to give need domiciliary (home visit) eye excellent advice on type of lamps care, 700,000 people are going used as well as the positioning of without such care. REPRESENTATIVES from On-Site Bristol were the latest visitors in Bristol their lampstand. Few could argue with the Metropolitan Academy’s extensive programme of visitors giving careers Eligibility statement that vision is one of information, advice and guidance.Their young apprentices showed Bristol So who is entitled to home the most important of the five Met students some of the opportunities available in the construction visits? Under NHS guidelines, senses. Poor vision can contribute industry. Photo by Rebecca Crothers free domiciliary eye tests are to personal accidents and an available to anyone who is unable increasing sense of isolation, to visit an optometrist’s practice exclusion and frustration. A person’s unaccompanied, due to physical self-confidence can be drastically or mental illness. This would reduced after a fall. include people whose mobility The NHS is spending millions is badly restricted by conditions of pounds treating preventable falls Do you have a story you would like to share? - email like arthritis, stroke or breathing and other vision-related accidents. problems. It can also apply This applies to elderly people living Right at Home is one of the most atUK’s Home is oneas ofwell the UK’s in Right care establishments as mostto people with mental health trusted care companies. those whoOur live local alone in their own trusted care companies. Our localproblems who may not be able to cope with a visit to a high street homes. team of friendly, reliable CareGiver’s team of friendly, reliable CareGiver’s Right at Home is one of the UK’s most Right is one ofshould the UK’s mostoptometrist. For example, those The at eyeHome examination specialise in assisting people who may specialise in assisting people who may trusted care companies. Our local trusted companies. not be seencare wholly as a meansOur localwith Alzheimer’s, agoraphobia or at Home is one of the UK’s most need a helping hand withaofday-to-day need helping with CareGiver’s day-to-daysevere depression. team at ofHome friendly, reliable CareGiver’s Right is one of the UK’s most Quality care and Right friendly, of team providing a pairhand ofreliable glasses. trusted care companies. Our local tasks in their own home. tasks in their own home. specialise in assisting people who may team of friendly, trusted reliable CareGiver’s Eye conditions such as cataracts, care companies. Our local specialise in assisting people who may At Marian Blake Opticians Companionship specialise in assisting people who may glaucoma and macular need aofhelping day-to-day team friendly,hand reliable CareGiver’s needservices a helping handdegeneration with day-to-daywe provide free NHS and Private a helping hand with day-to-day Ourwith services include: include: Home visits. If you feel you need canOur readily be detected and in the comfort of need tasks in their own specialise home. tasks in their own home. in assisting people who dementia may tasks in their own home. Specialist care Specialist dementia care an eye test in the comfort of your treatment sought. In addition, Our services include: your own home need a helping hand with day-to-day own home or you know a family theOur early signs ofinclude: general medical Companionship Ourcare services include:Companionship Specialist dementia services tasks in their own home. member or friend that does, please conditions such as diabetes or Companionship and errands Transportation and errands Specialist dementiaTransportation care Specialist dementia care Transportation and errands get in touch with us on 0117 hypertension can be highlighted dressing Help with washing, dressing Help with washing, Companionship Ourdressing services include:Help with washing, Companionship 9651861. even before the patient develops and personal care and personal care and personal care Transportation and errands Specialist dementia care Transportation and errands Light Housekeeping Light Housekeeping Meal preparation Companionship Light with Housekeeping Help with washing, dressing Help washing, dressing Medication reminders Jonathan Best Bsc (Hons)MCOptom preparation and Mealpersonal preparation and personal care Transportation andMeal errands care Post-operative support Optometrist Holiday and respite cover Medication reminders Light with Housekeeping Help washing,Medication dressing reminders Light Housekeeping and much more... Post-operative supportqualified in Optometry from the University of Mealpersonal preparation and care Post-operative support Meal preparation ‘Jonathan To find out how we can help care for you or your family, call Holiday and respite cover Holiday andreminders respite coverand recently moved to Bristol to be closer to Medication reminders Manchester Light Housekeeping Medication family. He lives with his wife and two small children in Staple and much more... Post-operative Post-operative support 01793 602502 and much more... Meal preparation support Hill’. Or visit www.rightathomeuk.com/swindon Holiday andreminders respite cover Medication Holiday and respite cover Registered with the Care Quality Commission. Each Right at Home office is independently ownedTo and operated find out how we To can help care for you orhelp yourcare family, find out how we can for call you or your family, call Right one of the UK’s most Right atRight Home is one of the UK’s most and much more... Post-operative support and much more... at Home is one of the UK’s most trusted care companies. Our Our local trustedtrusted care companies. Holiday and respite cover care companies. local Our local

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Quality care andcare and Quality Companionship Companionship Quality care and Quality care and in theand comfort in theof comfort of Companionship Quality care Companionship your own home your home in the comfort of in Companionship theown comfort of your home in theown comfort of your own home your own home

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members to support us in our endeavour to re-open the existing pool with a community cafe and Heritage Centre. The benefit of this plan is that the pool would be run by the community so there would been no running costs incurred by the council. Councillor Sue Milestone Labour & Co-operative Party - St George West

Let community run Speedwell Baths

Hostel supporters missing the point

MANY people used Speedwell Baths throughout childhood and local people are dismayed that after ten years there is no pool provision in the area. The baths were an important resource for teaching children from local schools to swim and maintain fitness: for example Speedwell School, Dr Bell’s School, Alexandra Park, Rose Green Comprehensive, Whitfield Comprehensive and many others used Speedwell Baths. Generations of local children will no doubt have happy memories of learning to swim there. The baths are an important part of our local heritage, and were designed by the well- respected local architect, C.F.W. Dening who also designed the Central Health Clinic at Tower Hill and Jubilee Baths in Knowle. In 2005 the Liberal Democrat Administration on Bristol City Council took the decision to close Speedwell Baths while retaining Jubilee. Dening, was an exponent of the ‘Garden Suburb Movement’ with its emphasis on open space and healthy living - hence the inclusion of allotments at the site. The allotments are still in use but the developers have allowed the building to deteriorate and were seen removing roof tiles as recently as February. Recently the building has been nominated as an Asset of Community Value by concerned residents, supported by the Civic Society, Historic Pools of Britain and the 20th Century Society. We are in the process of setting up a Community Interest Company with the objective of restoring and running the pool for community use. We welcome the setting up a Facebook Page Friends of Speedwell Swimming and we would encourage

THE two contributors to the March issue of Fishponds Voice venting opinions on ‘Showing compassion on mental health’ and ‘Hostel here? Yes please’ have clearly missed the point and clearly need to move house and become neighbours to any such institution to get it. Residents of hostels and half-way houses who in the main have proven psychiatric, alcohol and drug abuse issues, have historically presented greater concerns and create far more pressing problems than perceived physical threats or violent acts towards schoolchildren. Those who live in close proximity to one such establishment are subjected on an around the clock basis, to anti-social behaviour in terms of shouting and arguing, noise pollution, street drinking, persistent littering and begging. Any comment from residents who dare to challenge these behaviours are invariably met with the most foul, disgusting and obscene language and needless to say, the attitude on the part of the perpetrators is so deeply entrenched and beyond the most basic civility, that the anti-social behaviour in all its forms continues with impunity. Any right thinking person must surely agree, that this form of abuse of the manifold opportunities presented to integrate into the community, is completely at odds with an environment where schoolchildren can be randomly exposed to this type of behaviour in their own street on a daily basis, or even worse, are continually deprived of sleep and rest during the hours of darkness. These very same children coincidentally, have successfully petitioned the authorities to award a local monument protected status, who truly are caring for their community and who in fairness,

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April, 2016

should themselves, along with all minors, not have to live in such a disruptive environment. In reality, the crucial issues relating to schoolchildren lie not in any potential physical threat but by the actual influences of such undesirable role models with scant regard for the community (in which great efforts are being made by those in close proximity to successfully integrate such persons) who clearly lack the slightest comprehension of respect, social responsibility, conscience towards the community, true integration with their neighbours, local residents and children, all of whom would rather not have to tolerate the incessant repetition of anti-social acts and attitudes blighting their daily lives having done so for far too long. Name and address withheld

Roads should not be a playground I LIVE in upper Fishponds and have used Stonebridge Park all my life and it’s no secret it’s parallel to the very busy Fishponds Road. Yes it is a shortcut, but what are roads for? Certainly not a playground. It’s clear that most houses here would have at least two cars, which results in the road being virtually a single lane anyway with cars parked both sides which is already a deterrent to would-be speedsters. I am retired now but experience in my removal business of late I wonder what would happen if the tenants or owners of a house opposite or nearby one of these ridiculous street pockets had to move. If it were a car causing obstruction a neighbour would normally move their car to assist the movers, then of course there’s the question of access for emergency vehicles such as fire engines or ambulance. My opinion is that these street pockets presents a useless and frustrating hazard with an accident waiting to happen. I just hope there’s no one sat on the bench at the time. Alan Dainton Fishponds

The dangers of obstacles in road REFERENCE to the Stonebridge Park street pockets. Two comments to make: If the residents can close their road to me, it seems a discrimination that I cannot close my street to them. If discrimination applies this should be stopped. It should be allowed on all roads that people live in or none. The second point is more serious for the residents. If they are allowed to make decisions and place things in the road such as planters benches and the like, they would be legally liable should those things cause an accident. They should have

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a liability insurance in place before they are allowed to put this into operation, and the body giving them permission should see the details of that policy before permission is given. If the liability insurance cannot be obtained then it cannot proceed. Terry King Fishponds n Editor’s note: All relevant permissions and insurance are in place, organisers say

My sympathies to the residents I FIRST saw these “pockets” about one week ago when driving up Stonebridge Park around 7.30pm in the dark. My first thoughts were “What idiot put those things there and what are they?” Secondly, my sympathies went out to the residents outside of which houses those “pockets” were deposited. Would the planners and facilitators want such items dumped outside their houses I wonder? Is there an answer? Probably not! Martin Jefferd Fishponds

Owners should clean up after dogs I RECENTLY put a post on to the Fishponds group on Facebook about two incidences of dog fouling on Arygle Road near Barton Fields; my partner is partially sighted and had it not been the fact I was with him he would have stepped in it. The response I got was amazing; loads of people coming across this issue on a daily basis. I know it can be reported to Bristol City Council; which is good; but why don’t dog owners clear up after their dogs? It carries disease and should not be there in the first place. What can be done to highlight this issue and what steps can be taken to stop it happening on a daily basis? Kim Quiddington Speedwell

Extra M4 junction is needed now I REFER to your article ‘Residents back call for new M4 junction’ (March edition) featuring James Hinchcliffe and Councillor Lesley Alexander urging the Government to fund a new Junction 18a to relieve traffic congestion on the Avon Ring Road. This cannot come soon enough. Every single morning rush hour the traffic backs-up from the Bromley Heath Road and on to Overndale Road. Sometimes, the queue gets as far as the double mini-roundabout on Croomes Hill. I’m convinced that this traffic is caused by commuters travelling from Emersons Green wanting to get to the M4 because

Got News? Call Jayne On 0788 0731148

April, 2016

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there is no direct route to the motorway. As a result, all the traffic is clogging-up at the Bromley Heath roundabout. With developments, like Lyde Green, and the success of the Bristol and Bath Science Park this traffic will only get worse. I wish express my support via the Fishponds Voice for the campaign by Mr Hinchcliffe and Cllr Alexander to get this link road built. It is excellent news that they’re working closely with South Gloucestershire Kingswood MP Chris Skidmore to represent the views of Bristol residents to the Government. I hope the Fishponds Voice can continue to provide first-rate coverage in bringing us the latest developments on this important issue. Richard Franklin Fishponds

Join the Friends of Fishpond Park I WAS delighted to read in last months Fishponds Voice about the wonderful work of staff and children from Fishponds Church of England Academy, who became the first to successfully make the park’s war memorial a listed building. I am involved in the recently formed ‘Friends of Fishponds Park’ to look at developing the park with local residents, and involving children is an integral part. The park was originally an area of common land, which meant local people had the right to graze their

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cattle and pigs on it. When the school Dame Hannah Moore was born in, opened, it became a play area for the pupils. In 1881 the area officially became a park after being purchased by Stapleton Urban District Council. At this time people were dying from unclean water and the Drinking Foundation Association was founded to make clean water accessible to people across the country. A fountain was added in 1893, and is now on the National Heritage List for England, as a grade II listed building. The Friends of Fishponds Park are due to hold their next meeting on Tuesday April 12 at 7.00pm in the Kingfisher Café on Straits Parade. Please come along, as I am trying to gather more history of the park and encourage people to join the group and share their local knowledge. We have already been guaranteed approximately £30k for the project but need to raise more as it is estimated new play equipment alone will cost about £100k Nicola

Start playing out in Fishponds’ streets PLAYING Out is a not-for-profit organisation set up by parents

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what might work for you and your neighbours, help with the application process and provide free kit to ensure your street plays out safely. It generally takes about three months for a street to start playing out, so now is a good time to start thinking about it for the spring. To find out more, contact Jo C on jo.chesterman@outlook.com or 07811816620, visit the facebook page www.facebook.com/groups/ BristolPlayingOut/ or the website www.playingout.net.

Jo Chesterman Local area activator, Playing Out

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Money Advice

Action call over garages eyesore I HAVE enclosed photographs of Bristol City Council Housing Department garages at Frenchay (in City of Bristol), after reading the letter about the campaign for cleaner streets in the March edition of Fishponds Voice. I have been trying to get this area cleaned up for years, with the help of councillor Lesley Alexander. It is situated at the rear of Froomshaw Road and between Probyn Close and Folliot Close. Us residents consider us to be in ‘No man’s land’ as we are right on the boundary with South Gloucestershire and nothing gets done. So will you please print these photographs to try and get something done? R Jempson Frenchay

to activate street play across the UK. We give practical advice and support to anybody wanting to enable children to play out safely on their doorstep. We can help you to apply to the council for a temporary play street order, closing the street to through traffic allowing children to use the space for play and for neighbours to meet in their street.Volunteer stewards from the street ensure children stay in the closure area and escort drivers in and out of the street. There are streets in Fishponds playing out but we are keen to get more in the area. We can come to your street for a chat about

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OUG

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T H

E MO

with

Richard Pollard Fishponds Baptist Church

April, 2016

We all have mountains to climb

ELL what can I say other than start singing the famous song from the Sound of Music. climb every mountain....ford every stream!”... No, actually what I want to do is to talk about climbing mountains. Actual mountains. Believe it or not, last summer I managed to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania with my 14 year old son. It was an opportunity given to us that we simply could not refuse, and we managed to raise over £1000 in the process for various fantastic charities. But before you think I’m blowing my own trumpet, let me assure you that there was an awful lot of VERY hard work involved! How else could I, (who often gets breathless walking up the stairs, let alone up to our church balcony!), manage to climb all 5000+ metres of a mountain, so high that you actually begin in rainforest and end up at the top among glaciers, above the clouds? It took us a week to reach the top. And that brings me to the very point I’d like you to be encouraged by as you read this. I realised, during our climb, that all of us, every day, have huge mountains to climb. Some are big mountains, some are smaller. But all are challenging, all are difficult, all require sweat, blood and tears at some point along the way.You may, at this moment, be facing a mountain of some sort (financial, emotional, physical, mental, spiritual.) where you think there is no way on earth that you can manage to climb and overcome it. Well here is an encouragement.You can. We began our climb in the beautiful foothills - “I can do this. How hard can it be?” I asked myself. But

then reality dawns on me. Day after day of endless climbing, ascending, up and up, gradual but never ending! Then the pain really starts kicking in.You look around you, and you can tell you’re in a beautiful place having the experience of a lifetime. But I find myself halfway through our trek saying to my son, “do we really have to do this? Haven’t we done enough?!” And now it was up to my son to say to me “Dad, we can do this”. Sometimes we need that word of encouragement, that word to tell us to keep going. Now we’re scrambling, almost vertically, and breathing is so difficult because of the altitude. Every breath is needed to step upwards. We have to wake at 4am the next day so that we can begin climbing again before the boulders start to fall and potentially crush us. And then, we reach the top. The summit. We’re there. Amongst stunning snow, glaciers, ice. Some of us have been sick in the process, some of us haven’t managed to reach the top at all. But some of us have, and how satisfying and how wonderful to know that sometimes you just need to keep going. What a wonderful experience. Tough, wonderful, exhausting, exhilarating. Can I encourage you today - whether the mountain you face is big or small, exciting or deadly dull, terrifying or mundane, please persevere.You will be amazed at the lessons in life that you learn along the way. Jesus had the biggest mountain to face, he was crucified for us, and knew he would be. Trust in him and know that you and He can face any mountain in life together.

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Bristol Care Homes operates 3 care homes in Horfield, Almondsbury and Thornbury, and will soon be opening a 4th home in Fishponds. Our commitment is to excellence of care with constant innovation. We are keen to hear from nurses to lead our teams. Care home nursing is a challenging, rewarding, and fulfilling professional career. It addresses long term holistic personcentred care in a community setting. Nurses set the strategies and lead the care team. We’d be pleased to hear from you and invite you to visit one of our homes to see contemporary professional nursing in advanced care of the elderly.

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April, 2016

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Medicinal plants in the Frome Valley

HIS month’s plant is Ramsons, or wild garlic (Allium ursinum). It grows abundantly in shady places, and can be found above the lake in Eastville Park, and near the riverbanks. Some people love the smell, while others find it overpowering, but none can deny the beauty of the glossy leaves and delicate white flowers. It is an excellent example of a plant which is both food and medicine. Geoffrey Grigson, in his ‘Englishman’s Flora’, quotes the 16th century herbalist Gerard. He describes a fish sauce made from the leaves with butter “which may very well be eaten in April and Maie, of such as are

of a strong constitution”. This was apparently eaten in the Low Countries – perhaps the English had a more feeble constitution then! Its chief medicinal use is as an anti-microbial for the gastrointestinal tract. The herbalist Julian Barker, author of ‘The Medicinal Flora of Britain and NW Europe”, says it can help in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, gastro-enteritis and dysentery – take two dessertspoons of the juice daily, in water. Julie BrutonSeal and Matthew Seal, authors of “Hedgerow Medicine”, say it will also help those with IBS and people recovering from a gut infection. In addition, they recommend its use

to help circulation and protect the heart. Used externally as a poultice (chopped leaves), it can aid the healing of minor cuts and boils. There are different ways to preserve it. I made a tincture (1 part chopped plant, 3 parts vodka, shake daily and strain), but I think I prefer to eat it! Pesto will last for weeks in

With Ruth Baker Medical Herbalist

the fridge, and longer in the freezer – blend leaves with olive oil and pine nuts or other nuts. When eaten with pasta, it’s best to simmer for a few minutes in a little of the pasta water. Alternatively, preserve in jars with oil and vinegar. Buon appetito!

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FISHPOND’S NEW TOP QUALITY CARE HOME IS NOW FULLY OPEN • Offering 65 spacious resident rooms with beautiful décor and en-suite shower • Expert dedicated care team • Wonderful catering, activities programme, landscaped gardens

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April, 2016

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Planning matters Independent planning consultant Chris Gosling examines design and sets readers a challenge to make up their minds about one of Fishponds’ more unusual homes THIS month I will turn my attention to design and how it intersects with planning.You must all have seen buildings and wondered how they received planning permission. Often this applies to the buildings that stand out like sore thumbs, or ‘carbuncles’ as Prince Charles once famously declared. Planners are not designers, as such. Design is where the creative process intersects with the process of making sure that these creations fit in with their surroundings. National guidance praises innovative British design in general and expects the planning system to encourage good design. This is taken through into local design policies seeking to ensure that new buildings respect local distinctiveness. Conservation Areas get their own, more detailed, design guidance. There is a dialogue between designers and planners over design and the result isn’t always what the public would wish to see. Everyone has their favourites – one of mine is in Fishponds Road – a terrace of three storey houses with a four storey block of flats standing in the middle of it failing to respect the scale of the surrounding housing. The unexplained extra

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storey is something that you will often see in Bristol. In this case, the storey height has been compressed, so that the building isn’t noticeably taller than those on either side in terms of height, but each storey is squeezed down to achieve the overall effect.

Battle

This underlines the essential battle in all buildings – the tension between the client getting what the client wants, usually internal space in rooms or extra flats, on the inside of the building and the public getting something that they want to look at from the outside of the building. When space is at a premium tends to be when design gets interesting internally and externally. Outside of Open Doors events, we don’t have the luxury of seeing the inside of buildings unless they are open to the public or we know the owners. Yet the buildings have to function, to serve their purpose, or they are not going to get built. Planning’s responsibility lies mostly with the outside of the buildings and how they affect the public realm. Breaking the rules For me, scale and proportion is where it all starts. Get these right and you have a much better chance of a new building fitting in with its surroundings. It is easier to step down in scale than step up and still make it work. But it is not all about following rules. The rules are just the starting point. Often the best design breaks those rules, but tends to understand the rules it is breaking and what can be achieved by doing so. This is often the case with landmark, iconic buildings: The kind of buildings that turn a street into something that makes it an experience to walk down: something that lets you know that where you are is not just anywhere.

Ancient v modern

Returning to the monarchy, one of the biggest themes in architecture of the last few decades can be broadly labelled as ancient versus modern. The heir to the throne is an unashamed classicist. He appreciates design that has its roots in Greek and Roman architecture. Most

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recently qualified architects are more interested in the innovative; in using new materials in new ways. Of course there are merits in both approaches. People can enjoy the formality of the centre of Bath but also enjoy the curves and levels of Cabot Circus. The requirement for buildings to be sustainable, however, is pushing architecture generally to move as it always has done, in response to changing technology. You can’t expect a zero carbon house to resemble the Parthenon. The Ancient Greeks were never too bothered about preventing heat loss.

Challenge

There are always balances to be struck. Many people are more comfortable with the familiar and if you feel that way yourself, I would like to leave you with a challenge: leading off Fishponds Road towards Thingwall Park is Hawkesbury Road. There you will find what I consider to be a little gem. It is a flat roofed house in a back garden, facing the side road. Its scale fits the back garden location. Its use of materials is contemporary which, despite being different, manages to blend in well with the surroundings. Its form is simple and balanced between its three elements. It is unassuming to the point of going unnoticed. I think that the design responds perfectly to the location. Other people find

Chris Gosling

this house stark and barren, lacking in obvious windows. This shows that we are not all going to agree on the design of new buildings in an aesthetic sense, but that is just a matter of taste. The fact that there are such buildings in the local area makes Fishponds a richer environment and shows that when the world moves forward, it doesn’t have to leave Fishponds behind. That can surely only be a good thing. ChrisGoslingPlanning@Gmail.com

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Fishponds Voice’s new columnist Tim Barton is a gardener, avid allotmenteer and Fishponds resident. He is making a mid-life break from the corporate world and planning a career in horticulture. Tim, 43, is married with two teenage boys and is studying with the Royal Horticultural Society IT’S at this time of year, every year that I really start to feel that tingle of excitement as spring brings everything back to life. April begins slowly with the first few buds appearing on the trees and ends with an explosion of green as they all come into full leaf. I’ve been away during mid April in the past only to return home to an unrecognisable place, totally different from when I left. Blink though and you’ll miss it happen and in the same short time you can miss being prepared if you are growing from seed. This year I decided to grow a range of hardy perennials from seed along with the usual annuals and vegetables, this has left us a little short on space. Our kitchen windowsill is packed with seed trays with everything from African Feather Grass (Pennisetum macrourum) and Apricot Sprite (Agastache aurantiaca) to lettuce

April, 2016

The city and tomato. The utility room is in severe risk of being taken over entirely by propagation as I’ve no more room to go up so am spreading sideways too. I decided that it was time to acquire a heated propagator as the room gets very cold and things can take a while to get going but was amazed at the price they are, even for a modestly sized one. So in my eternal quest to find cheaper alternatives, set about finding something else. For around £40 I bought a 6m soil warming cable complete with a thermostat, it required a little assembly but nothing more than wiring a plug and it came with clear instructions. I constructed a tray from some old boards then layered ½ inch of building sand, laid on the cable and finished with another ½ inch of sand. It has transformed my propagation to me raising a tray of Cosmos in about five days and the chillies that sat for a month on the windowsill coming up in seven. Make sure you cover any

gardener BY TIM BARTON

seed trays though if you have pets. Our five-year-old cat Trevor who recently had a leg amputated due to cancer has taken convalescing on its warmth. I haven’t the heart to kick him off, so I have left one tray with bare soil where he now sleeps. Even with a small amount of time and a limited budget there is no end of things that can be achieved in the garden and the allotment. In the coming months I hope to show the things that you can do to keep on top of your garden and to produce a little food for the table. And knowing that it came from your own hand will make it taste all the sweeter. If you have ever pulled a fresh carrot from the ground, rinsed the soil from it and taken a bite then you will know that neither love nor money can buy anything close. No self respecting gardening column would be complete without a list of things to do for the month but I’ve also tried to prioritise them so that if you only have one hour a week or two then this is still achievable. The list of plants to grow from seed this month is almost endless so follow instructions on the packets and get sowing. One hour • Sow some carrots or beetroot under cloches, or wait until there is no risk of frost and plant them anyway. • Sow kale, summer cabbage, lettuce, radishes and Florence Fennel outside but again be careful of frosts. • Throw some grass seed on any bare patches of lawn. Sprinkle a little fine compost over the top though or you’ll find that you have

spread some expensive bird food. • Plant sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) and other half hardy annuals straight in the ground. • Start to pull weeds where you are wanting plants to grow. • Start mowing any lawns • Go shopping, I strongly recommend going to a nursery rather than a garden centre if you have one near. Two hours • Divide herbaceous perennials • Hoe borders to keep annual and perennial weeds from establishing and spreading • Plant any main crop potatoes, earlies and second earlies should be in by now and will need earthing up • Pot on growing plants • Dig up and divide herbs such as chives, mint and marjoram. • Build cane or Hazel supports for climbing beans. • Weed raspberry and blackberry canes, they are much easier when the weeds are small. • Finish preparing any beds for new or potted on plants to go when it’s warm enough.

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n NEWS

King’s Oak is one of the first local schools to receive micro:bit STUDENTS at Bristol’s King’s Oak Academy in Kingswood were among the first to receive the BBC’s micro:bit, which is being rolled out to around one million 11 year olds across the UK. The BBC micro:bit, part of the Make it Digital initiative, is a pocket-sized codeable computer that allows young people to get creative with technology, whatever their level of experience, and aims to help develop a new generation of digital pioneers. They will be delivered free to every Year 7 student in England and Wales,Year 8 students in Northern Ireland and S1 students in Scotland. Students can programme their BBC micro:bit to become anything they want – from simple games to smart watches and even fitness trackers – all by using one of the code editors at www.microbit. co.uk, or the mobile app, and by connecting it to other devices and sensors. The website also features a range of resources and tutorials to help teachers, parents and students take advantage of the BBC micro:bit’s vast potential. It’s the BBC’s most ambitious education project in 30 years and builds on the pioneering role of the BBC Micro, which helped introduce the nation to computing in the 1980s.

n BBC Radio Bristol Presenter Emma Britton with students at King’s Oak Academy

Marie Fisher, teacher of IT at King’s Oak Academy said, “The students have really engaged with micro:bit and have produced some excellent work already. This project will enable our students to be at the forefront of technology in the classroom and we hope it will inspire our students to become the next generation of entrepreneurial digital pioneers.”

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n NEWS

Open-air charity opera at Colston’s School THE picturesque grounds of Colston’s School in Stapleton will be the setting of a charity opera this summer. Bristol touring opera company Tessitoura will perform a fresh take on one of Rossini’s most beloved operas, La Cenerentola. The open air performance will support Bristol charity Julian House where proceeds will help men and

women avoid homelessness. The opera will retell old favourite Cinderella whilst guests enjoy a pre-performance picnic with views across Bristol. Set in modern day England, the comedy follows the story of Angelina, a harassed PA stuck in her step-father’s business, a prince in the most royal of reality shows, and a litany of other colourful characters.

The melodies will be sung in English by both experienced performers and young singers who are accompanied by an ensemble of chamber musicians. The event follows the success of the outdoor opera Cosi Fan Tutte by Mozart at the school last year, which also supported Julian House. Julian House community and event’s fundraiser, Joanne Bamford, said: “Whether novice or aficionado, curious about opera but timid about diving in, this is a superb

performance that offers adults and children alike pure operatic pleasure. “If you love opera or have never been to one, make sure you catch this.” It takes place on Sunday June 19. The gate to the lawns will open from 4.30pm for picnicking, with the opera commencing at 6pm. There will be a further 30 minute interval for picnicking. Tickets are £20 for adults and £10 for children. To book visit www. julianhouse.org.uk/support-us

Group set up to keep area tidy A FISHPONDS couple have set up a group to help keep their home area tidy. Cath Thomas and Paul Masri have launched Fishponds Clean Streets via the Litter Action website. Three other volunteers joined them for their first event, which resulted in the collection of six bags of rubbish from around Straits Parade, Fishponds Rd and Beechwood Rd. Bristol City Council provides litter-picking sticks, gloves and high visibility jackets. The next litter pick will be at on Saturday April 23, starting by the picnic benches on the cycle track opposite the Morrisons carpark (by New Station Way). It will be postponed if the weather is very poor. You can join the group at http://www.litteraction.org.uk/fishpondsclean-streets

Ways to Wellbeing

Social Prescribing Service in Greater Fishponds Ways to Wellbeing is a service which aims to help improve quality of life and social and emotional wellbeing. We provide free and confidential services to adults living in and around Fishponds in Bristol.

Would you like… • Support to improve self-confidence? • Information about services in your area? • To learn new skills and find hobbies ? • To meet new people? You can volunteer with us and gain skills in front line health and social care Receive training and support to help others to improve their lives, make friends and build their community, by becoming a Wellbeing Supporter. A Wellbeing Supporter is a volunteer who meets with an individual for a limited number of sessions. They will talk about the person’s interests, find opportunities to suit them and help them to take part. If you are interested in our service or in volunteering for Ways to Wellbeing, please get in touch.

Email: waystowellbeing@thecareforum.org.uk or Call: 0117 9589309 or 0117 9589360 To advertise, contact Caroline on 07453 954261

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April, 2016

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Over-40s are offered free health checks MIDDLE-aged people in Fishponds Bristol are being invited to seek free NHS health checks this summer. Bristol City Council’s public health team is encouraging residents aged between 40 and 74 to take up the opportunity. The 30-minute checks allow you to get your blood pressure, cholesterol and weight checked and can help people avoid heart attacks or strokes over the next 10 years. A health check is also an opportunity to get support with losing weight and quitting smoking. Becky Pollard, director of public health, said: “The lifestyle choices we make today can decrease our risk of serious illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer by as much as 60 per cent. “Small changes can make a big difference: drinking less, sleeping better, moving more, checking yourself and eating well, along with trying to keep stress levels under control, are things we can all try to do. For smokers, quitting is the best thing they can do to be healthier.” The health check team will be visiting over 20 workplaces across

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the city, ranging from Job Centres to taxi ranks and big offices, reaching employees less likely to visit their GP centres. Drop-in events are also taking place at Charlotte Keel Surgery in Easton during April and May and can be booked over the phone. Two health check events will also be taking place on 6 and 7 April at the @Symes surgery in the south of the city between 9am and 5pm. You can also book a 30-minute NHS Health Check with your GP or one of the following Community Outreach Teams: • Knowle West Health Park • Southmead Development Trust • Wellspring Healthy Living In order to be eligible you must be aged between 40-74 years, registered with a Bristol GP, and not already receiving treatment for a cardiovascular condition (diabetes, heart or kidney disease, high blood pressure or high cholesterol). Employers interested in hosting a health check should contact Pippa Dove on 0117 377 2256 or pdove@knowlewesthealthpark. co.uk

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n BOWLS MEMBERS of Begbrook Green Bowling Club are looking forward to the new season with enthusiasm, following the installation of new changing rooms and toilet facilities. Since the club started in 1994, it has had shared changing facilities outside its grounds, but now thanks to the efforts of its members it now has its own facilities. Begbrook club is a mixed club which fields both men’s and ladies league teams. Last season they gained their first county honours when Debbie Holwell was crowned Gloucestershire unbadged singles champion. The men’s team also gained a meritable third place at Bristol St Andrews Open tournament. Bowls is a great way of keeping fit and healthy - for both the young and not so young. The Club night is every Tuesday starting on April 12 at 6pm. New and experienced bowlers are welcome. Contact Dave on: 01179 571 215, email: davidshortman@live.co.uk or Roger on 01179 701 364, email roger.eileen@talktalk.net or website www.begbrookgreenbc. org

April, 2016

New facilities installed at Begbrook Green Bowling Club

Fishponds Veterinary Centre

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0117 9654413 or visit zetlandvets.co.uk to book online 10 Straits Parade, Fishponds Bristol, BS16 2LA

Terms and conditions - oﬀer only valid for adult cats and dogs who have missed their annual vaccination booster. Can’t be used in conjunction with any other oﬀer. Valid from April 1st - June 30th 2016.

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April, 2016

55 Thicket Road Fishponds A lovely spacious period mid terrace home located in a good position having easy access to both Fishponds and Staple Hill High street. Internally there are two reception rooms and modern kitchen with two double bedrooms and lovely bathroom to first. Further benefits include a rear garden and garage. Besley Hill 764 Fishponds Road Bristol BS16 3UA Tel: 0117 965 3162

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Sticky Fish, a fully inclusive pre-school, based on Christian and family values

ESTSH IN N MO BFUTS HE

April, 2016

SINE U

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Tell us about your business Sticky Fish is a small thriving preschool in the heart of Fishponds, offering up to fifteen hours per week for all children, aged between 2 and a half and 4 years old. We receive Local Authority funding for all 3 and 4 year olds and funding for eligible 2 year olds. We are a team of seven dedicated staff, and take a maximum of 24 children. We have a fantastic large, bright space inside ( and out) for the children, which we adapt to include cosy, intimate spaces to play in as well.

What service do you provide? Sticky Fish is a fully inclusive preschool, based on Christian/family values and welcomes all children. We are totally committed to providing a happy, safe and caring environment, through play and planned activities. We follow the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) as a springboard to our creative curriculum. We are a not-for-profit charity and full member of the Pre-School Learning Alliance. We welcome participation from parents.

“ She has been so happy there making friends, and benefitting from the sociable, gentle and caring setting while learning how to help others and be considerate. We think you are outstanding!” - Parent statement

What is the best part of running your business? I simply love managing Sticky Fish! All our staff are so committed to the well-being of the children, and they truly are a delightful team! I couldn’t ask for a better job. It’s great to be part of such a fulfilling community service with families

who have been really supportive to us.

What makes your business different from others? We all love to simply play with the children; you will always see us on our hands and knees, joining in with make-believe playor spattered with paint or playdough, or chasing the children in an exciting game of “What’s the time Mr Wolf”. We have such a lot of fun! One of our new parent’s recent comments was, “Sticky Fish has such a lovely feel to it”. What matters most to us is the personal, genuine love and care for the children.

What are your plans for the future?

Contact information

We have just massively improved our outdoor area to include a large, green space with mature trees which is fantastic. We want to improve and extend this whole area of outside learning for the children. We want to continue to provide an excellent local preschool, with a high reputation amongst families. We would like all families to feel warmly welcomed, with a personal concern that I think is unique to Sticky Fish.

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Liz Tomlinson (manager) Sticky fish pre-school Fishponds Baptist Church Downend Road Fishponds BS165AD Email: stickyfishpreschool@ hotmail.co.uk Tel: 0117 958 4075 (9.30 till 1pm) Mob: 07746 404262 Website: www.stickyfishpreschool. org.uk/

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April, 2016

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fishpondsvoice

n ON THE TREATMENT TABLE

with Tim Button, Doctor of Chiropractic at Cleve Chiropractic and Next Step in Mangotsfield Blog 27 – The Tampa Bay Rowdies

O this month was different. It’s the sort of month that makes me love my job. I feel so lucky to have a career that enables me to be part of professional team sports. When I was asked to be the chiropractor for the Tampa Bay Rowdies Soccer team from Florida in the United States on their pre-season tour of the England, I jumped at the chance. I have to thank Bristol Rovers for this opportunity really. For it is the Bristol Rovers legend and former player, captain, manager and friend, Stuart Campbell, who asked me. He is now the head coach of the Rowdies and chose his home to be the pre-season country of choice. In America the football season starts in the spring. Which makes for some hot and humid games down in the Sunshine State. The tour started in Nottingham. The team stayed in the Jury’s hotel in the centre of town and started training at Nottingham Forest on the Monday. By Wednesday they had the first game against Nottingham Forest and it was a draw, 2-2. I hooked up with the team after an exciting day’s work at Cleve Chiropractic and a long drive on Thursday evening, where I was roomed with a Bristol City player trying out for the Rowdies. He was a good guy who was keen for the Florida sun. The next day we played Nottingham County and I got my

first chance to see Stuart’s Rowdies. I was impressed with how they handled English football and saw some skills that helped them win 3-2. We celebrated with a gentle night out in Nottingham…I don’t remember much but I can say that I managed to seal many new AngloAmerican friendships over pints of Doom Bar and the odd Sambuca. Through bleary eyes I realised that I had indeed woken up in my hotel room the next day and although I may have missed breakfast, I did make it to watch Stoke vs Southampton with the rest of the team on Saturday. This gave us a little taste of what was to come as our last game of the tour was against Stoke FC. It was supposed to be against Stuart’s first club Leicester City, but was unfortunately changed due to Sky TV’s schedule. After the game we travelled onto our next hotel and world class destination, St George’s Park National Football Centre in Buton upon Trent. St George’s is the home of the FA and England. Wow and wow again. St George’s Park is unbelievable. I am lucky enough to have worked at Twickenham, the Millennium Stadium and Wembley but this was something else. The Rowdies have an incredibly generous owner and he hired all of England football’s facilities for his team. I don’t know if I will ever make it back there, so I treasured every moment. I’m not sure if I’m the only chiropractor to work in England’s dressing room? Maybe. How do I describe it? It’s massive. I think it’s bigger than my house, indeed it even came fitted with a 65 inch TV. Each player has his or her own section, there are two physio beds with room for more around a central island that is probably bigger than my kitchen. They have shower facilities that you would expect in a 5-star spa with the added benefit of two of the latest technology ice baths. Interestingly the England boys seem to need a mirrored hairdressing section that almost doubles the length of the dressing room full of plugs for hair dryers and straighteners…how times have changed! After changing and treatment we would go out onto the pitches. All of the 11 pitches (one indoor 3G) are the exact size of Wembley and most

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use the latest DESSO technology that intertwines the roots of real grass with plastic making them incredibly stable and resilient to wear whilst feeling like a typical but perfect grass pitch. Most pitches that you see on TV that you would expect to be torn up but look great even after a game are using this new technology. It’s great to play and to train on despite the terrible English weather. Speaking of weather, the poor lads from Florida had to put up with some bitter Northerly winds. They couldn’t believe that we lived here all year round. I tried to explain that it’s not always so cold, it’s often warmer…I lost them after I told how much it had rained this winter. Tampa, Nottingham is not. In between physio/chiro treatment, training and food we got to meet other people using the facilities at St George’s. I bumped into old friend and Rovers player Crain Hinton who is an FA coach’s coach who just happened to be one the lead coaches running a course that the legend, current Bristol Rovers coach and friend Marcus Stuart was attending. Being a Bristolian I have to have a Premier League team to support as well, I have always followed Liverpool and to my delight Robbie Fowler was there doing his badges and we managed to catch up with him one evening in the bar where he was having a quiet pint with his friends. On my final day, Tuesday, we finally played the biggest match of the tour against Premier League big boys, Stoke FC. We heard that a few big names would be playing and sure enough Charlie Adams, Steven Ireland and a few new signings were getting some game time so the Rowdies had to be on form. As soon as the match started the English team tested out the Americans physically to see if they could cope and after a few tough challenges the boys knew they had to step up not to be bullied off the park. But to their credit the Rowdies soon got to grips with the game and scored an excellent goal to go 1-0 ahead. The score stayed that way with chances going both ways despite the stand out talent of Charlie Adams and Steven Ireland. 70 minutes in, both teams brought on all of their substitutes and the game affectively

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changed pace. The subs did well but in the dying minutes the Rowdies conceded and the game finished 1 a piece but it was a moral victory for Tampa. Stuart used to play with lots of skill, hard work and tenacity and that is what I unsurprisingly saw in the Rowdies this week. They were incredibly fit and professional, showing just how much the game has progressed in the US. Any football fans should keep an eye on our friends over the pond this summer, I think it going to be a great season. The Rowdies are in the league below the famous MLS but they have all the hallmarks of a premier league side and I can’t believe it will be long before they are allowed to buy into the MLS franchise. The guys seemed to enjoy their chiropractic treatment and before I left, the powers-that-be asked if I would potentially be willing to work for them in the future, so watch this space, the next Rowdies report may well be from the beautiful and sunshiny Tampa! Catch up with me next month to return to more usual topics like the ongoing battle for me to lose weight, baby Harry’s weight gain, toddler Molly’s gymnastics and the customary injury chatter.

Tim Button 0117 957 5388

drtimbutton@ clevechiropractic.com www.clevechiropractic.com facebook.com/clevechiro twitter.com/clevechiro

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Local

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specialist domestic installers

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New ranges now in store

brockley painted with oak bedroom

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